common

/ˈkɑːmən/

Say it: KOM-uhn

1. adjective Occurring, found, or done often; prevalent.
Traffic jams are a common problem in most major cities.
2. adjective Shared by, coming from, or done by two or more people, groups, or things.
They discovered a common interest in 19th-century literature.
3. adjective Showing a lack of refinement or good taste; ordinary and unexceptional.
His critics dismissed the novel as a common piece of work with no real depth.
4. noun A piece of open land for public use, especially in a village or town.
Children were playing cricket on the village common.

📖 Seen in the wild

It is common practice to cite sources in academic writing.
collected by @vocablast

✏️ common in a sentence

It is common knowledge that the earth revolves around the sun.
The two companies worked together for their common benefit.
Despite their political differences, they managed to find some common ground.
The most common side effect of the medication is mild drowsiness.
He argued that the new park should be a resource for the common good.
In the legal system, a common-law marriage is one recognized without a formal ceremony.
The robin is one of the most common birds in this region.

🔁 Synonyms & antonyms

widespread frequent usual ordinary prevalent everyday standard familiar

widespread · suggests something is found over a large area or among many people.

frequent · emphasizes that something happens often or at short intervals.

usual · refers to what is expected or normal in a particular situation.

ordinary · implies something is not special or distinctive in any way.

Opposites: uncommon, rare, unusual, exceptional, infrequent

🌱 Where it comes from

The word 'common' traveled from Old French 'comun' into English around the 13th century. Its roots go back to the Latin 'communis', meaning 'shared by all or many'. This Latin term itself is thought to come from 'com-' (together) and 'munis' (related to public duties), painting an original picture of shared civic responsibility.

🧩 How it's used

Common patterns:

common sensecommon knowledgecommon groundcommon ancestorhave in commoncommon practice

While 'common' is a perfectly neutral word in most uses, be aware of its secondary meaning of 'vulgar' or 'low-class'. Describing a person's manners as 'common' is a pointed insult, though it may sound dated to some. In nearly all other contexts, such as 'common cold' or 'common interest', the word simply means 'widespread' or 'shared' and carries no negative connotation.

Word family: commonly, commonness, commonplace, commonality

💬 Quick answers

What does 'common' mean?

Most frequently, 'common' means something is widespread or happens often. It can also mean 'shared', as in a 'common goal', or refer to a public green space, as in a 'village common'.

What is the difference between 'common' and 'ordinary'?

'Common' typically describes how frequently something occurs, while 'ordinary' describes something as not special or distinctive. A cold is a common illness, whereas a plain white t-shirt is an ordinary piece of clothing.

Can 'common' be an insult?

Yes, describing a person or their behavior as 'common' can be an insult. It implies they are unrefined or of a lower social class, a usage that is now somewhat dated but still considered offensive.

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