common

KAH-muhn/ˈkɑ.mən/KO-muhn/ˈkɒm.ən/

20 meanings of common

1
adjective
Happening often or found in many places. Not rare.
Rain is common here in the spring.
It's common to feel nervous before a big test.
UsageSay it is common to + verb: it is common to see deer here.
Oppositerare, unusual, infrequent
Note
2
adjective
Shared by two or more people or things, or by everyone.
Like one backyard that two houses both use.
The four apartments share a common laundry room in the basement.
The two countries share a common border.
UsageSay you have something in common with someone: you share it.
Similarshared, communal, joint, mutual, collective
Oppositeprivate, individual, separate, personal
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3
ordinary (low-class)adjective
Ordinary and plain, and sometimes an unkind word for rude or low-class.
She wore a common dress with no decoration at all.
His grandmother said chewing gum in public was common.
UsageCalling a person common is rude.
Similarplain, ordinary, vulgar, simple, coarse
Oppositerefined, elegant, sophisticated, fancy
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4
adjective
Used for the everyday name of a plant or animal, not its scientific name.
'Ladybug' is the common name for this little beetle.
The plant's common name is much easier to remember than its Latin one.
UsageAlmost always used in the phrase common name.
Similarvernacular, popular
Oppositescientific
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5
in species namesadjective
Used in the name of a plant or animal to show it is the usual, well-known kind.
We spotted a common frog by the pond.
The common daisy grows in almost every lawn around here.
Note
6
law by customadjective
Coming from custom and old court decisions, not from written laws passed by lawmakers.
Judges in England built up common law over many centuries.
Many of our rights come from common law, built on old court decisions.
UsageMostly in common law.
Oppositestatutory
Note

Less common meanings

7
open landnouncountable
An open piece of land that everyone in a town or village can use.
The kids play soccer on the common after school.
Sheep still graze on the village common.
UsageOften used in the town common or the village common.
Similarcommons
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8
not proper (grammar)adjective
Describing a noun that names a general kind of thing, like 'city', not one special name, like 'Paris'.
The word 'river' is a common noun, so it is not capitalized.
Our teacher asked us to circle every common noun in the story.
UsageUsually in the phrase common noun; its opposite is proper noun.
Oppositeproper
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9
adjectiveobsolete
Not holy, and not clean enough to be used in worship.
What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
1611, The Holy Bible, King James VersionHere, common means unclean or unholy, not set apart for God.
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10
adjectiveobsolete
Behaving in a sexually shameful way, or selling sex for money.
a Dame who her self was as Common as the King's High Way
1692, Roger L’Estrange, FablesHere, common means sleeping around, having sex with many people.
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11
verbobsolete
To tell or share something with another person.
Then entred Satan into Judas, whose syr name was iscariot (which was of the nombre off the twelve) and he went his waye, and commened with the hye prestes and officers, how he wolde betraye hym vnto them.
1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt (Tyndale Bible)Here, commened means talked with or shared plans with someone.
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12
verbobsolete
To talk together with another person about something.
Note
13
verbobsolete
To take part in something with other people.
14
verbobsolete
To eat meals together at one shared table.
Note
15
verbobsolete
To have sex with another person.
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16
nounobsolete
Something good that two or more people share together.
17
nounobsolete
The ordinary people of a place, thought of as one group.
the weal o' the common
c. 1608, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Coriolanus”
18
noun
A legal right to use another person's land, like letting your animals eat grass there, shared with other people.
19
adjective
In grammar, belonging to the gender that joins the old masculine and feminine word groups in languages like Swedish.
20
verbUK
To share with other people the right to use open land.

Practice

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Origin

It comes from Latin commūnis, meaning "common" or "public," which passed through Old French and Middle English into English.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 3 facts

English common derives ultimately from Latin commūnis. en.wiktionary.org
Latin commūnis means common or public. en.wiktionary.org
The word passed through Old French and Middle English into English. en.wiktionary.org