Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Belonging to or shared by two or more individuals or groups: "Common" describes something that is jointly owned, used, or experienced.
   • Occurring, found, or done often; prevalent: "Common" refers to something that is widespread, usual, or ordinary.
   • Having no special status or quality; average: "Common" can describe something or someone that is not distinguished or exceptional.
   • Showing a lack of refinement; coarse or vulgar: "Common" can refer to behavior or taste considered unrefined or low-class.

2. Noun:

   • A piece of open land for public use, especially in a village or town: "Common" refers to a public park or green area.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • English is a common language for international business. (It is a language shared by many parties.)
  • The robin is a common bird in this region. (It is frequently found or seen.)
  • He was just a common soldier, not an officer. (He had no special rank or distinction.)
  • She found his jokes rather common. (She considered them vulgar or in poor taste.)

• Noun:

  • The children played football on the village common. (They played on the public grassy area.)

Advanced Usage

• "Common knowledge": a fact that is widely known and accepted.

  • It is common knowledge that smoking is harmful to health.

• "Common ground": a basis of shared interests or agreement.

  • Despite their arguments, they found common ground on environmental issues.

• "The common good": the benefit or interests of all members of a community.

  • The new law was passed for the common good.

Variants and Related Words

• Commonly (adverb): usually; very often.

  • This tool is commonly used by carpenters.

• Commonness (noun): the state or quality of being common.

  • The commonness of the material made it inexpensive.

• Commoner (noun): a person without noble rank or title.

  • In historical times, a commoner could not marry into the royal family.

Synonyms

• Adjective (shared): mutual, joint, collective.
• Adjective (usual): ordinary, usual, standard, prevalent, widespread.
• Adjective (average): ordinary, average, run-of-the-mill.
• Adjective (vulgar): coarse, uncouth, vulgar, unrefined.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• "In common": shared with someone or something.

  • The two cultures have many traditions in common.

• "Out of the common": unusual or exceptional.

  • His artistic talent was out of the common.

• "Common or garden" (British English): ordinary, of the most basic type.

  • It wasn't a rare species, just a common or garden sparrow.

Adjective

1. to be expected; standard
   • common decency
2. lacking refinement or cultivation or taste
   • he had coarse manners but a first-rate mind
   • behavior that branded him as common
   • an untutored and uncouth human being
   • an uncouth soldier--a real tough guy
   • appealing to the vulgar taste for violence
   • the vulgar display of the newly rich
3. of low or inferior quality or value
   • of what coarse metal ye are molded- Shakespeare
   • produced...the common cloths used by the poorer population
4. of or associated with the great masses of people
   • the common people in those days suffered greatly
   • behavior that branded him as common
   • his square plebeian nose
   • a vulgar and objectionable person
   • the unwashed masses
5. being or characteristic of or appropriate to everyday language
   • common parlance
   • a vernacular term
   • vernacular speakers
   • the vulgar tongue of the masses
   • the technical and vulgar names for an animal species
6. commonly encountered
   • a common (or familiar) complaint
   • the usual greeting
7. common to or shared by two or more parties
   • a common friend
   • the mutual interests of management and labor
8. having no special distinction or quality; widely known or commonly encountered; average or ordinary or usual
   • the common man
   • a common sailor
   • the common cold
   • a common nuisance
   • followed common procedure
   • it is common knowledge that she lives alone
   • the common housefly
   • a common brand of soap
9. belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public
   • for the common good
   • common lands are set aside for use by all members of a community

Noun

1. a piece of open land for recreational use in an urban area
   • they went for a walk in the park