common good: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Formal, Academic, Political
Quick answer
What does “common good” mean?
That which benefits society or a community as a whole, rather than the interests of individuals or specific groups.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
That which benefits society or a community as a whole, rather than the interests of individuals or specific groups.
A philosophical and political concept referring to the shared benefit, advantage, or welfare of all members of a community; in business, the collective benefit of an organization or team.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Used with equal frequency in political and academic discourse in both varieties.
Connotations
Carries a slightly more collectivist or civic-minded connotation in both varieties. In political rhetoric, can be claimed by parties across the spectrum.
Frequency
Slightly more common in UK political discourse historically, but now equally prevalent in US political and academic contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “common good” in a Sentence
act/argue/work for [the] common goodbe in [the] common goodserve [the] common goodVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “common good” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The policy was designed to common-good the resources.
American English
- The policy was designed to common-good the resources.
adverb
British English
- They acted common-goodly in donating the land.
American English
- They acted common-goodly in donating the land.
adjective
British English
- It was a common-good initiative funded by the council.
American English
- It was a common-good initiative funded by the city.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in corporate social responsibility (CSR) and stakeholder theory to argue for decisions benefiting society beyond shareholders.
Academic
A core concept in political philosophy, ethics, economics (public goods), and sociology.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation; appears in news, political speeches, or community discussions about shared projects.
Technical
In economics, relates to 'public goods' (non-excludable, non-rivalrous). In law, can refer to public trust doctrines.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “common good”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “common good”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “common good”
- Using plural 'common goods' when referring to the abstract concept (incorrect: *'He fought for common goods.').
- Omitting the definite article 'the' in formal contexts (less formal: 'for common good'; formal: 'for the common good').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In formal and most contexts, yes: 'the common good'. In some fixed phrases or less formal usage, it can be omitted, e.g., 'for common good'.
Rarely. The plural 'common goods' is a separate technical term in economics referring to rival but non-excludable resources like timber or fish stocks.
In everyday language, they are synonyms. In economics, a 'public good' is a precise technical term (non-rivalrous, non-excludable like national defence), while 'common good' is a broader philosophical concept.
No, it is a mid-frequency term used primarily in formal, academic, political, or journalistic contexts. It is not typical in casual conversation.
That which benefits society or a community as a whole, rather than the interests of individuals or specific groups.
Common good is usually formal, academic, political in register.
Common good: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkɒm.ən ˈɡʊd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkɑː.mən ˈɡʊd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “for the greater good (related concept)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a COMMON park (shared by all) that is GOOD for everyone's health and happiness — that's the 'common good'.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIETY IS A BODY (what is good for the whole body is the common good; individual interests are like organ-specific needs).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is closest in meaning to 'the common good'?