commoner Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a person who holds no title
    common man; common person.
  2. adjective belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public
    common.
    • for the common good
    • common lands are set aside for use by all members of a community
  3. adjective having no special distinction or quality; widely known or commonly encountered; average or ordinary or usual
    common.
    • the common man
    • a common sailor
    • the common cold
    • a common nuisance
    • followed common procedure
    • it is common knowledge that she lives alone
    • the common housefly
    • a common brand of soap
  4. adjective satellite common to or shared by two or more parties
    mutual; common.
    • a common friend
    • the mutual interests of management and labor
  5. adjective satellite commonly encountered
    common; usual.
    • a common (or familiar) complaint
    • the usual greeting
  6. adjective satellite being or characteristic of or appropriate to everyday language
    vulgar; vernacular; common.
    • common parlance
    • a vernacular term
    • vernacular speakers
    • the vulgar tongue of the masses
    • the technical and vulgar names for an animal species
  7. adjective satellite of or associated with the great masses of people
    vulgar; common; plebeian; unwashed.
    • the common people in those days suffered greatly
    • behavior that branded him as common
    • his square plebeian nose
    • a vulgar and objectionable person
    • the unwashed masses
  8. adjective satellite of low or inferior quality or value
    coarse; common.
    • of what coarse metal ye are molded"- Shakespeare
    • produced...the common cloths used by the poorer population
  9. adjective satellite lacking refinement or cultivation or taste
    rough-cut; uncouth; vulgar; coarse; common.
    • he had coarse manners but a first-rate mind
    • behavior that branded him as common
    • an untutored and uncouth human being
    • an uncouth soldier--a real tough guy
    • appealing to the vulgar taste for violence
    • the vulgar display of the newly rich
  10. adjective satellite to be expected; standard
    common.
    • common decency

WordNet

Com"mon*er noun
Definitions
  1. One of the common people; one having no rank of nobility.
    All below them [the peers] even their children, were commoners, and in the eye law equal to each other. Hallam.
  2. A member of the House of Commons.
  3. One who has a joint right in common ground.
    Much good land might be gained from forests . . . and from other commonable places, so as always there be a due care taken that the poor commoners have no injury. Bacon.
  4. One sharing with another in anything. Obs. Fuller.
  5. A student in the university of Oxford, Eng., who is not dependent on any foundation for support, but pays all university charges; -- at Cambrige called a pensioner.
  6. A prostitute. Obs. Shak.

Webster 1913