1 : belonging to or shared by two or more people or groups
▪ They have a common ancestor. ▪ The people on the island have a sense of common identity. ▪ a common goal/interest ▪ The pool at the condominiums is common property. [=the pool is owned by all of the condominium owners] ▪ The organization works for the common good. [=the public good; the advantage of everyone] ▪ He was chosen as the leader by common consent. [=everyone agreed that he should be the leader] — see also common ground, common knowledge at knowledge 2 commoner; -est [or more common; most common] a : done by many people
▪ It is common practice for one town's fire department to help another town when there is a big fire. ▪ a common spelling mistake
b : occurring or appearing frequently : not rare
▪ a common [=widespread] disease ▪ Buffalo were once a common [=familiar] sight on the American plains. ▪ Electric windows are a common feature in new cars. ▪ “Smith” is a common name. ▪ The problem is common to laptop computers. = It's common for laptop computers to have this problem. ▪ I think some of the most common flowers are also some of the prettiest. 3 : of a type that is regularly seen and not considered special or unique
▪ the common housefly ▪ cures for the common cold 4 a : without special rank or status
▪ a common soldier ▪ You're nothing but a common [=ordinary] thief!
b : not having power, wealth, or high status
▪ My parents were common [=ordinary, regular] folk. ▪ the common people ▪ the common man — see also common sense 5 : expected from polite and decent people
▪ He didn't even have the common decency to apologize. ▪ It is common courtesy to say “thank you.” 6 commoner; -est [or more common; most common] Brit, old-fashioned + disapproving : of or belonging to a low social class
▪ His manners are very common. ▪ She thought him common and uneducated.