Definition

1. Noun:
   • The state of sharing common attributes: The condition of having characteristics that are shared by many members of a group or class.
   • Ordinariness as a consequence of being frequent and commonplace: The quality of being usual, frequent, and not remarkable or special.
   • The quality of lacking taste and refinement: The state of being coarse, vulgar, or lacking in sophistication.
   • The state of being that is commonly observed: The condition of being standard, typical, or most frequently encountered.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The commonness of their goals helped unite the team. (The fact that their goals were shared attributes helped unite the team.)
  • The commonness of fast food restaurants makes them easy to find. (The ordinariness and frequency of fast food restaurants makes them easy to find.)
  • He was criticized for the commonness of his manners at the formal dinner. (He was criticized for the lack of refinement in his manners at the formal dinner.)
  • The commonness of this bird species in the region is well documented. (The state of this bird species being commonly observed in the region is well documented.)

Advanced Usage

• "Sheer commonness": Used to emphasize how utterly ordinary or widespread something is.
  • The sheer commonness of the error made it difficult to trace its origin. (The extreme ordinariness and frequency of the error made it difficult to trace its origin.)

Variants and Related Words

• Common (adj): Occurring, found, or done often; prevalent. Also, showing a lack of taste and refinement.
  • It is a common mistake.
• Commoner (n): One of the common people; a person without noble rank.
• Commonplace (adj/n): Not unusual; ordinary. As a noun, a usual or ordinary thing.
  • Air travel is now commonplace.

Synonyms

• Prevalence: The fact or condition of being prevalent; commonness.
• Ordinariness: The quality of being ordinary, commonplace, or unremarkable.
• Vulgarity: The state or quality of being lacking in sophistication or good taste; coarseness.
• Ubiquity: The fact of appearing everywhere or of being very common.

Antonyms

• Uncommonness: The state of being not common or ordinary; rarity.
• Rarity: The state or quality of being rare, uncommon, or infrequent.
• Refinement: The quality of being elegant, polished, or cultured.
• Distinctiveness: The quality of being different or unique.

Noun

1. sharing of common attributes
2. ordinariness as a consequence of being frequent and commonplace
3. the quality of lacking taste and refinement
4. the state of being that is commonly observed