4 ADJ [ADJ n] Common is used to indicate that someone or something is of the ordinary kind and not special in any way. □ Common salt is made up of 40% sodium and 60% chloride.
5 ADJ [ADJ n] Common decency or common courtesy is the decency or courtesy which most people have. You usually talk about this when someone has not shown these characteristics in their behaviour to show your disapproval of them. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ He didn't have the common courtesy to ask permission.
6 ADJ [ADJ n] You can use common to describe knowledge, an opinion, or a feeling that is shared by people in general. □ It is common knowledge that swimming is one of the best forms of exercise. ● com|mon|ly ADV [ADV -ed] □ A little adolescent rebellion is commonly believed to be healthy.
7 ADJ If you describe someone or their behaviour as common , you mean that they show a lack of taste, education, and good manners. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ She might be a little common at times, but she was certainly not boring.
8 N‑COUNT A common is an area of grassy land, usually in or near a village or small town, where the public is allowed to go. □ We are warning women not to go out on to the common alone. □ …Wimbledon Common.
9 N‑PROPER [with sing or pl verb] The Commons is the same as the House of Commons . The members of the House of Commons can also be referred to as the Commons . □ The Prime Minister is to make a statement in the Commons this afternoon. □ The Commons has spent over three months on the bill.
10 → see also lowest common denominator
11 PHRASE If two or more things have something in common , they have the same characteristic or feature. □ The oboe and the clarinet have got certain features in common. □ [+ with ] In common with most Italian lakes, access to the shores of Orta is restricted.
12 PHRASE If two or more people have something in common , they share the same interests or experiences. □ [+ with ] He had very little in common with his sister.
13 common ground → see ground
14 the common touch → see touch USAGE common
Don’t use a that
-clause after common
. Don’t say, for example, ‘It is quite common that
com|mon|al|ity /kɒmənæ l I ti/ (commonalities ) N‑VAR Commonality is used to refer to a feature or purpose that is shared by two or more people or things. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] We don't have the same commonality of interest. □ [+ between ] There is an amazing number of commonalities between systems.
co m|mon co ld (common colds ) N‑COUNT [usu sing] The common cold is a mild illness. If you have it, your nose is blocked or runny and you have a sore throat or a cough.
co m|mon cu r|ren|cy N‑UNCOUNT If you say that an idea or belief has become common currency , you mean it is widely used and accepted. □ The story that she was trapped in a loveless marriage became common currency.
co m|mon de|no mi|na|tor (common denominators )
1 N‑COUNT In mathematics, a common denominator is a number which can be divided exactly by all the denominators in a group of fractions.
2 N‑COUNT A common denominator is a characteristic or attitude that is shared by all members of a group of people. □ I think the only common denominator of success is hard work.
3 → see also lowest common denominator
com|mon|er /kɒ mənə r / (commoners ) N‑COUNT In countries which have a nobility, commoners are the people who are not members of the nobility. □ It's only the second time a potential heir to the throne has married a commoner.
co m|mon la nd (common lands ) N‑UNCOUNT Common land is land which everyone is allowed to use.
co m|mon la w also common-law
1 N‑UNCOUNT Common law is the system of law which is based on judges' decisions and on custom rather than on written laws. □ Canadian libel law is based on English common law.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] A common law relationship is regarded as a marriage because it has lasted a long time, although no official marriage contract has been signed. □ …his common law wife.
co m|mon ma r|ket (common markets )
1 N‑COUNT A common market is an organization of countries who have agreed to trade freely with each other and make common decisions about industry and agriculture. [BUSINESS ] □ …the Central American Common Market.
2 N‑PROPER The Common Market is the former name of the European Union .
co m|mon nou n (common nouns ) N‑COUNT A common noun is a noun such as 'tree', 'water', or 'beauty' that is not the name of one particular person or thing. Compare proper noun .
co mmon-or-ga rden also common or garden ADJ [ADJ n] You can use common-or-garden to describe something you think is ordinary and not special in any way. [mainly BRIT ] □ It's not just a common-or-garden phone! in AM, use garden-variety
common|place /kɒ mənple I s/ (commonplaces )
1 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If something is commonplace , it happens often or is often found, and is therefore not surprising. □ Foreign vacations have become commonplace.
2 N‑COUNT [usu sing] A commonplace is a remark or opinion that is often expressed and is therefore not original or interesting. □ It is a commonplace to say that movies can manipulate public taste.