Definition

1. Noun:
   • The common people: "commons" refers to ordinary people who are not part of the nobility, clergy, or other privileged classes.
   • A class of people lacking clerical or noble rank: Specifically denotes a social class in historical contexts, such as the House of Commons in British Parliament.
   • A pasture subject to common use: Land that is owned collectively or by one entity but over which others have traditional rights, such as for grazing animals.
   • A piece of open land for recreational use in an urban area: A public park or green space available for community use.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The House of Commons is the lower house of the UK Parliament.
  • In medieval villages, the commons was essential for peasants to graze their livestock.
  • The city commons is a popular spot for picnics and frisbee.
  • The politician claimed to represent the interests of the commons.

Advanced Usage

• "The tragedy of the commons": An economic theory describing how individuals acting independently according to their own self-interest can ultimately deplete a shared limited resource, even when it is clear that it is not in anyone's long-term interest for this to happen.
  • Overfishing in international waters is a classic example of the tragedy of the commons.

Variants and Related Words

• Common (adj): Belonging to or shared by two or more people or things; occurring, found, or done often.
  • English is a common language for international business.
• Commoner (n): A person without noble rank or title.
  • Historically, a commoner could not marry into the royal family without permission.

Synonyms

• Commonality: The state of sharing features or attributes; common people collectively.
• Populace: The ordinary people in a society.
• Common land: Land owned collectively or by one person, but over which others have certain traditional rights, such as to allow their livestock to graze.

Related Phrases

• To short commons: To have an insufficient supply of food.
  • During the siege, the citizens were put on short commons.

Related Idioms

• "As a member of the commons": Referring to someone's status as an ordinary citizen.
  • He spoke not as a lord, but as a member of the commons.

Noun

1. the common people
2. a class composed of persons lacking clerical or noble rank
3. a pasture subject to common use
4. a piece of open land for recreational use in an urban area
   • they went for a walk in the park