common

A2 · Elementary

adj. belonging to or shared by two or more people.

adj. shared by, coming from, or done by more than one person or group.

Español:común

“The two countries share a common language and history.”

“The project succeeded because all departments worked toward a common goal, setting aside their individual priorities for the collective good.”

B1 · Intermediate

adj. normal or plain; not special or high-ranking.

adj. lacking distinction or rank; ordinary or unremarkable in quality.

“The common sparrow can be seen in almost every garden.”

“Despite his vast wealth, he preferred the common comforts of a small cottage to the grandeur of a palace.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate British English

adj. behaving in a way that is not polite or shows a lack of education.

adj. denoting a lack of social refinement or perceived lower-class manners; often used pejoratively.

“She thought his loud shouting in the restaurant was very common.”

“The headmistress considered such slang to be common and strictly forbade its use within the school grounds.”

C1 · Advanced Law Technical

adj. describing laws that come from old traditions and court decisions rather than new written laws.

adj. pertaining to a legal system based on custom and court precedents rather than codified statutes.

“In some places, a common law marriage is recognized after a couple lives together for years.”

“The judge's ruling was based on common law principles that had been established over several centuries of judicial history.”

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun British English

n. an area of grassy land in a town or village that everyone can use.

n. a tract of open land available for public use or historically used for collective grazing.

“People often walk their dogs on the village common.”

“The local council debated whether to allow the travelling circus to set up their tents on the town common this summer.”