Jump To:

• commons
  commons

  noun

  (functioning as plural) people not of noble birth viewed as forming a political order
• Commons
  Commons

  noun

  See House of Commons

commons

¹ British  

/ ˈkɒmənz /

noun

1. (functioning as plural) people not of noble birth viewed as forming a political order

2. (functioning as plural) the lower classes as contrasted to the ruling classes of society; the commonalty

3. (functioning as singular) a building or hall for dining, recreation, etc, usually attached to a college

4. (usually functioning as plural) food or rations (esp in the phrase short commons )

---

Commons ² British  

/ ˈkɒmənz /

noun

1. See House of Commons

---

Explanation

A commons is a piece of land that belongs to everyone in a community. The commons in the middle of a village might be a green space that's available for gatherings and celebrations. One way to think of the commons is as public land or space — roadways, town parks, public beaches, and sidewalks could all potentially be defined as part of the commons. Nobody owns the commons, and when some part of it becomes privately owned, it's called privatization. The word commons comes from the Latin root communis, which means both "in common, shared by all, or general," and also "common property."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

commons Commons

Unauthorized leaks aren’t as commons as they are in the music and movie industries, but they do occur.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 25, 2026

Speaking in the commons after the announcement, the Labour MP for Mid Derbyshire Jonathan Davies warned the proposal to cancel the A38 project could mean the area faces an economic hit.

From BBC ● Jun. 30, 2026

Leo writes that modern technology has wonderful benefits like the establishment and ease of worldwide interconnections, the formation of global community and solidarity via the digital commons.

From Slate ● May 28, 2026

Reddit forums and Discord servers act as digital commons, replacing the sense of civic belonging that once came from churches or neighborhoods.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 19, 2025

“The first time I came to camp, you were sitting by the fire, in the middle of the commons area.”

From "The Last Olympian" by Rick Riordan

It must be approved by the House of Commons and House of Lords before any change would come into practice.

From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2026

"This must be a turning point for the NHS," she told the House of Commons when responding to the publication of the report.

From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2026

British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband took the floor in the House of Commons on Sept. 8 to deliver one of the most remarkable speeches heard there in many years.

From Salon ● Sep. 14, 2026

Following a debate in which both sides made emotional speeches, the House of Commons voted 286 to 270, majority 16, against the proposed legislation.

From BBC ● Sep. 11, 2026

He wonders how many times they’ve crossed paths, how many meals they’ve unwittingly shared in Commons.

From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri