common
A1 (Fundamental)Neutral; can be informal/pejorative when describing a person as 'common'.
Definition
Meaning
Belonging to, shared by, or typical of the whole of a group, community, or class; not special, private, or individual.
Occurring or found frequently; widespread. Also, lacking refinement or distinction; ordinary, low-class.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Core meaning centers on shared ownership or characteristics. Extended sense of 'frequent' is a natural semantic shift from 'widespread'. The pejorative sense (vulgar, low-class) is primarily UK-centric and now somewhat dated.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The pejorative sense describing a person ('He's so common') is far stronger and more established in UK English. In US English, 'common' is rarely used this way to describe people; it sounds archaic. The phrase 'common sense' is universal, but 'the common cold' is slightly more common in AmE phrasing than 'a cold'.
Connotations
UK: Can carry significant class-based negative judgment. US: Primarily neutral or statistical; negative connotation is weak or absent.
Frequency
Extremely high frequency in both varieties. The adjective is a core vocabulary item.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
common to [group/thing]common among [people/group]common in [place/field]It is common for [sb] to [do sth]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “common ground”
- “common knowledge”
- “common as muck (UK, pej.)”
- “the common touch”
- “have something in common”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
'This is common practice in the industry.' Refers to standard procedures.
Academic
'This theory addresses a common variable in social studies.' Used statistically or to describe shared characteristics.
Everyday
'It's common to feel nervous before a job interview.' Describing typical experience.
Technical
'The common frog (Rana temporaria) is widespread.' Used in taxonomy and biology.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- N/A for modern usage. 'To common' is archaic.
American English
- N/A for modern usage.
adverb
British English
- N/A. The adverb is 'commonly'.
- This procedure is commonly used.
American English
- N/A. The adverb is 'commonly'.
- He is commonly known by his nickname.
adjective
British English
- It's a common misconception.
- They found a common solution to the dispute.
- His manners were considered rather common.
American English
- Squirrels are common in this park.
- We have a common goal.
- It's common to tip 20% in restaurants here.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Cats and dogs are common pets.
- We have many things in common.
- Snow is common in winter here.
- It's quite common for students to feel stressed before exams.
- The two rival companies finally found some common ground.
- This bird is less common in urban areas.
- Despite their differences, they made a decision based on common sense.
- A common criticism of the policy is its lack of clarity.
- The archaeological finds share common features with artefacts from a nearby site.
- The author skilfully identifies the common thread running through these disparate historical events.
- While ostensibly different, the two philosophical schools operate on a common set of presuppositions.
- His accent betrayed a common upbringing, which he spent years trying to conceal.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Picture a COMMUNity center where everyone (COMMON people) gathers to share COMMON interests.
Conceptual Metaphor
SHARED SPACE IS COMMON (e.g., 'common ground', 'in common').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as 'коммунальный' (communal/utilities). The core meaning is closer to 'общий' or 'распространённый'.
- The negative sense ('вульгарный', 'простоватый') exists but is context-dependent, especially in UK English.
- Do not confuse with 'commonly' (часто) and 'in common' (общее).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'common' for 'usual' in all contexts ('It's common for me to drink coffee' is correct, but 'My common drink is coffee' is wrong; use 'usual').
- Overusing 'common' where 'frequent' or 'widespread' is more precise.
- Misplacing the stress: It's always on the first syllable: COM-mon.
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is the word 'common' used in a potentially pejorative sense?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Common' refers to what is widespread or shared by many (e.g., a common problem). 'Usual' refers to what is habitual or typical for a specific person, place, or situation (e.g., my usual seat).
Yes, but mainly in specific contexts: 1) A piece of open land for public use (e.g., 'village common'). 2) In the phrase 'the common good' (the benefit of all). It is not a general synonym for 'person'.
In UK English, yes, it can be a class-based insult meaning vulgar or lacking refinement. In US English, this usage is very rare and not widely recognized, so it would likely just confuse people.
It means 'shared' or 'possessed jointly'. It describes a similarity between two or more people or things (e.g., 'We have a love of music in common').