common
adjective/ˈkɒmən/
/ˈkɑːmən/
(comparative commoner, superlative commonest)
more common and most common are more frequentIdioms - happening often; existing in large numbers or in many places
- a common problem/occurrence/practice
- a common feature/theme
- the most common type of injury
- Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer among women in this country.
- Jackson is a common English name.
- Some birds that were once a common sight are now becoming rare.
- a common spelling mistake
- Heart disease was the most common cause of death in those aged over 85.
- common in somebody/something The disease is very common in young horses.
- Allergies to milk are quite common in childhood.
Extra Examples- Stomach pain is very common in children.
- These problems now seem fairly common.
- It's a common enough situation, I know.
- Jones and Davies are common Welsh names.
- The fungus is a common sight in woodlands at this time of year.
- The most common complaint from patients was about poor communication.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- seem
- become
- …
- extremely
- fairly
- very
- …
- among
- in
- [usually before noun] shared by or belonging to two or more people or by the people in a group
- They share a common interest in photography.
- to have a common ancestor/enemy
- the need to cooperate to achieve a common goal
- We are working together for a common purpose.
- The various groups all learn Arabic, so they have a common language.
- common ownership of the land
- This decision was taken for the common good (= the advantage of everyone).
- It is, by common consent, Scotland's prettiest coast (= everyone agrees that it is).
- common to somebody/something basic features that are common to all human languages
- This attitude is common to most young men in the armed services.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- to
- have something in common
- hold something in common
- in common with
- …
- [only before noun] ordinary; not unusual or special
- Shakespeare's work was popular among the common people in his day.
- In most people's eyes she was nothing more than a common criminal.
- You'd think he'd have the common courtesy to apologize (= this would be the polite behaviour that people would expect).
- It's only common decency to let her know what's happening (= people would expect it).
Extra Examples- Oats were the staple food of the common people.
- Polite letters of rejection are a matter of common courtesy.
- (of an animal or plant) found or living in quite large numbers; not rare
- the common garden frog
- I wanted a recording of the common cuckoo.
- The swordfish is not common in European waters.
- (British English, disapproving) typical of somebody from a low social class and not having good manners
- She thought he was very common and uneducated.
Extra Examples- I wish you wouldn't use that word—it sounds so common.
- I don't like Sandra. She seems a bit common to me.
- Don't use that word, it's awfully common.
- He's as common as muck, but he's a got a lot of posh friends.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- seem
- sound
- …
- very
- a bit
- rather
- …
Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French comun (adjective), from Latin communis.
Idioms
See common in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee common in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishbe common/public knowledge
- to be something that everyone knows, especially in a particular community or group
- Their relationship is common knowledge.
common or garden (British English)
(North American English garden-variety)
- (informal) ordinary; with no special features
the common touch
- the ability of a powerful or famous person to talk to and understand ordinary people
make common cause with somebody
- (formal) to be united with somebody about something that you both agree on, believe in or wish to achieveTopics Discussion and agreementc2
Check pronunciation:
common