# commoner

/ˈkɑmənɝ/ (US) · /kˈɒmənɐ/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/commoner
Updated: 2026-05-20

## Definition

a person who is not a member of the royal family or the nobility. In the past, this word was used to describe anyone who was not a king, queen, or lord.

For teachers: a person who is not a member of the nobility or the royal family. Historically used to distinguish the general population from the aristocracy.

## Examples

- The king walked among the commoners in the city square.
- During the medieval period, a commoner could not enter the royal court without a special invitation from a noble.
- The historical novel explores the life of a commoner who, through a series of unlikely events, finds himself in the presence of the monarch.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.