Definition

Noun: * An ordinary person who is not a member of the nobility, aristocracy, or elite; a person without a formal title or high social rank. This term refers to the typical citizen, emphasizing their lack of special privilege or status compared to the ruling or upper classes.

Usage

The term "common man" is used to represent the average citizen in a society, often in contrast to the wealthy, powerful, or titled. It is frequently employed in political, historical, and sociological contexts to discuss the interests, perspectives, or conditions of the general populace.

Examples

• The politician promised to fight for the rights of the common man.
• In his novels, Charles Dickens often wrote about the struggles of the common man during the Industrial Revolution.
• The new tax policy will have a significant impact on the common man.

Advanced Usage

• "The common man" (with the definite article "the"): This is the most typical usage, referring to ordinary people as a collective group or concept.
  • The revolution was fueled by the discontent of the common man.

Variants and Related Words

• Commoner (noun): A person who is not of noble rank. This is a more formal and direct synonym.
  • In medieval times, a commoner could not own certain lands.
• Everyman (noun): A symbolic, ordinary person who represents humankind in general, often used in literature and drama.
  • The play's protagonist is an everyman, facing dilemmas we all understand.

Synonyms

• Ordinary citizen
• Average person
• Everyman
• Commoner
• Plebeian (historical, often implies a lower social class in ancient Rome or similar contexts)

Antonyms

• Aristocrat
• Nobleman
• Elite
• Peer (in the sense of a member of the nobility)

Noun

1. a person who holds no title