common

adjective

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

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Relevance

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 ordinary
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 Leather or faux leather are both common suspects for luxury crossbody phone bags, but there are also alternatives made with recycled, easy-to-clean nylon, suede, canvas, and beyond. —Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 10 Apr. 2025 In the case of the bugs, Wolfe notes, the recognition that insects shared a close common ancestor with remipedes helps narrow down where and how insects originated. —Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Apr. 2025 Furthermore, poor diets are common in the U.S., and the fast pace of life can cause more stress than women experience elsewhere, Annapoorna Kini, MD, director of the Interventional Structural Heart Disease Program for the Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital in New York, added. —Kaitlin Sullivan, Health, 2 Apr. 2025 The species is common in the Baltic Sea and typically occurs during the spring bloom, according to the researchers. —Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 1 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for common
Recent Examples of Synonyms for common
  1. ubiquitous
  2. normal
  3. general
  4. low
  5. collective
  6. ordinary
  7. poor
  8. vulgar
Adjective
  • Sheer looks are a ubiquitous part of many a modern red carpet event.
    — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 7 Apr. 2025
  • Plugging his new album with the wonderfully ubiquitous Brandi Carlile, the EGOT winner is the musical guest this week with Oscar nominee Carlile, who is back for her third time too.
    — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 5 Apr. 2025
Definition of ubiquitous
Adjective
  • For 2025, retail growth predictions of 3.6% or better are holding firm, and while NRF economists are expecting slower growth for the near term, the trade group is expecting for normal growth to return in time.
    — Megan Poinski, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
  • This health condition occurs when your blood sugar is slightly higher than normal but not yet in the range for type 2 diabetes.
    — Julia Ries, Health, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of normal
Adjective
  • Also out: general manager Calvin Booth, whose contract will not be renewed.
    — Tim Reynolds, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Promoted to director of college scouting in 2003 and director of player personnel in 2009 and then assistant general manager in 2012, DeCosta has essentially been setting the prospect board and running Ravens’ drafts since 2005.
    — Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of general
Adjective
  • The survey's measure of consumer sentiment dropped to a level lower than at any point during the Great Recession.
    — Max Zahn, ABC News, 11 Apr. 2025
  • Trust Is Built In Small Moments Like This For a co-op like Cabot Creamery, maintaining consumer trust means being transparent—even when the stakes are low.
    — Stephanie Gravalese, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of low
Adjective
  • The Cougars will need every ounce of that collective energy to overcome a Duke squad that has looked unstoppable for vast swaths of the last month.
    — Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 5 Apr. 2025
  • The sociologist Émile Durkheim had a wonderful phrase for this: collective effervescence.
    — Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 5 Apr. 2025
Definition of collective
Adjective
  • The group were among around 7,000 people recently released from scam centers run by criminal gangs and warlords operating along Myanmar’s border with Thailand, where many are held against their will and forced to work conning ordinary people, including American citizens, out of their life savings.
    — Teele Rebane, CNN Money, 2 Apr. 2025
  • For most ordinary owners, there's always one area of the house that could use a little TLC.
    — Jason D. Greenblatt, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Apr. 2025
Definition of ordinary
Adjective
  • There’s a real debate to be had about what responsibility better-off neighborhoods like Hyde Park have to help solve humanitarian problems that often are laid at the feet of poorer areas.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 6 Apr. 2025
  • The weather bulletin, which was issued at 12:29 a.m., warned of flash flooding in small creeks, streams, urban areas, highways, streets, underpasses, low-lying areas and places with poor drainage.
    — Holly Yan, CNN Money, 5 Apr. 2025
Definition of poor
Adjective
  • The childish use of vulgar profanity simply leads peoople to view the speaker as being unable to express his/her view.
    — Letters to the editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Along with receiving vulgar comments in person and people taking her picture on campus, the 18-year-old has received vile and sexist messages after her phone number was posted online.
    — David Chiu, People.com, 1 Apr. 2025
Definition of vulgar

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 16 Apr. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on common

Nglish: Translation of common for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about common

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