common
/ˈkɒm.ən/If something is common, it happens often, is found in many places, or is shared by many people. It can also mean ordinary, not special, or easy to find.
- It's common to feel nervous before exams.
- This plant is common in wet areas.
- Shared problems are common in big cities.
The commons are land or facilities used by everyone in a group or community. In older or formal use, a common is an area shared by the public.
- They met on the village common.
- The park was once a common.
- Students used the common for lunch.
Adinary Nuance
Common is close to usual, ordinary, and normal, but it often adds the idea of many people sharing it or seeing it often. Usual means what happens most often; common can mean widespread in many places or among many people. Ordinary sounds more neutral or plain, while common can sometimes sound less polite when it means 'not special'.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- phổ biến
- Spanish
- común
- Chinese
- 常见
- Japanese
- 一般的な
- Korean
- 흔한
Etymology
Common comes from Old French comune and Latin communis, meaning 'shared by all' or 'public'. The word has been used in English since the Middle Ages.
Common phrases
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
- Is common a formal word?
- Common is neutral. It works in everyday speech, school writing, and most business writing.
- What is the difference between common and usual?
- Usual means what normally happens. Common means something happens often or is shared by many people.
- Can common sound rude?
- Yes, sometimes. If you mean 'not special,' it can sound negative about a person or thing.
- What is common sense?
- Common sense means basic practical judgment that most people are expected to have.