common

adjective

ˈkä-mən How to pronounce common (audio)
Definition of commonnext
1
as in ordinary
often observed or encountered horse ranches are a common sight in that part of the state

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2
as in normal
being of the type that is encountered in the normal course of events just a common house cat but an extraordinary friend

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3
as in general
belonging or relating to the whole facts of common knowledge

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4
as in low
belonging to the class of people of low social or economic rank a man of wealth and privilege who mingled without pretense with the common folk

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5
as in prevailing
held by or applicable to a majority of the people a politician who works not for the special interests but for the common good

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6
as in collective
used or done by a number of people as a group used a common bathroom while at the campground

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7
as in mediocre
of average to below average quality has a common singing voice that's good enough for performing at those venues

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8
as in poor
of low quality furniture of common workmanship that did not justify the high prices

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9
as in vulgar
lacking in refinement or good taste embarrassed by the common manners of his new in-laws

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective common contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of common are familiar, ordinary, plain, popular, and vulgar. While all these words mean "generally met with and not in any way special, strange, or unusual," common implies usual everyday quality or frequency of occurrence and may additionally suggest inferiority or coarseness.

a common error
lacked common honesty
common manners

When would familiar be a good substitute for common?

The words familiar and common are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, familiar stresses the fact of being generally known and easily recognized.

a familiar melody

In what contexts can ordinary take the place of common?

The meanings of ordinary and common largely overlap; however, ordinary stresses conformance in quality or kind with the regular order of things.

an ordinary pleasant summer day
a very ordinary sort of man

When is plain a more appropriate choice than common?

While in some cases nearly identical to common, plain is likely to suggest homely simplicity.

plain hard-working people

When might popular be a better fit than common?

Although the words popular and common have much in common, popular applies to what is accepted by or prevalent among people in general sometimes in contrast to upper classes or special groups.

a writer of popular romances

How do vulgar and popular relate to one another, in the sense of common?

Vulgar, otherwise similar to popular, is likely to carry derogatory connotations (as of inferiority or coarseness).

souvenirs designed to appeal to the vulgar taste

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of common Joining the 27-nation EU would require Iceland joining the bloc's common fisheries policy that would allow Spanish, Dutch and other trawlers into their waters. — ABC News, 29 Aug. 2026 Watch For The Traps That Skew Your Number A few common traps distort valuations in both directions. — Lien De Pau, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026 Medication remains the most common treatment for mental health conditions in the US. — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026 Roster changes on other days would likely be common, with allowances for some routine transactions like waiver claims and excused absences, such as paternity leave. — Evan Drellich, New York Times, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for common
Recent Examples of Synonyms for common
  1. ubiquitous
  2. normal
  3. general
  4. low
  5. prevailing
  6. collective
  7. ordinary
  8. poor
Adjective
  • The Gap's heyday was 20 years ago, when its stores were ubiquitous and everyone wore its T-shirts and jeans.
    — Jim Edwards, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Kusama’s popularity continued to surge in the 2010s and 2020s, with her ubiquitous pumpkin sculptures as well as with fashion collaborations, including two with Louis Vuitton.
    — Livia Caligor, Architectural Digest, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of ubiquitous
Adjective
  • Although Edouard is not forecast to become a hurricane, the hurricane center has warned coastal residents to closely monitor the forecast as the storm is in an area of warmer than normal water and low wind shear, which favor strengthening.
    — Doyle Rice, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026
  • That change was introduced to help give club staff working across transfer departments a more normal working pattern.
    — Leon Imber, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of normal
Adjective
  • Diaper qualities and features Some general diaper selection factors to consider are cost, softness, absorbency, fit, fragrance, ingredients and environmental friendliness.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026
  • His agents, Matt and Ryan Keator, wisely held off on engaging in serious negotiations with the Ducks and general manager Pat Verbeek throughout the year while recognizing the uncertainty of an evolving NHL marketplace fueled by a surging salary cap.
    — Chris Johnston, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of general
Adjective
  • Structural inflation, fueled by government deficits, AI investments, low unemployment rates, growing trade barriers and energy disruptions, is reshaping the landscape for markets, according to Fidelity International.
    — Justina Lee, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The low-molecular-weight collagen seeps into your skin as an in-office treatment would, reducing the size of pores and lifting saggy, crepey skin.
    — Essence Wiley, InStyle, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of low
Adjective
  • The group noted the projection was revised upward from an earlier estimate owing to an additional year in the budget window and higher prevailing interest rates.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Likewise, prevailing concepts of Hamlet at the time cast the prince as a wan and melancholic, leading critics to bristle at Bernhardt’s energy.
    — Betsy Golden Kellem, JSTOR Daily, 18 Mar. 2026
Definition of prevailing
Adjective
  • Until there is a method to identify CTE in a living brain, the results of the collective efforts to make football safer won’t be known for another 15 to 20 years.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Gal Gadot aside, the most prominent version of Wonder Woman etched in our collective cultural memory—the one from the classic comic strips and the TV series starring Lynda Carter—features her pointed tiara with a central red star.
    — Giorgia Olivieri, Vanity Fair, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of collective
Adjective
  • Audiences embraced the films for their creeping realism and slow-building scares, which transformed ordinary bedrooms, hallways and home security cameras into places where something terrifying might be lurking just outside the frame.
    — Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The new measure comes as Moscow and Kyiv ramp up their air campaigns, with Ukrainian strikes deep into Russian territory sparking fuel shortages and bringing the war closer to home for ordinary Russians.
    — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of ordinary
Adjective
  • Dozens of companies have withdrawn over the past decades due to poor profits, an uncertain business outlook and concerns about harm to their reputations from making arms, especially lethal weapons.
    — Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Along the way, the audience can expect tons of humiliation, terrible second prizes, and the guarantee that Robertson will turn at least one poor soul's wrong turn into several minutes of unhinged public destruction.
    — Rebecca Rosman, NPR, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of poor

Phrases Containing common

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commodores
common
commonalities
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Cite this Entry

“Common.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/common. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on common

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about common

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