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• 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 )

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Commons ² British  

/ ˈkɒmənz /

noun

1. See House of Commons

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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

The good kind includes security alliances and trade deals to advance U.S. interests, plus efforts to solve tragedies of the commons like overfishing or Ebola.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026

The survey also found 109 nightjar territories, the highest recorded, in the lowland heaths of east Hampshire, including Woolmer Forest and the commons of Shortheath, Bramshott, Ludshott, Broxhead and Kingsley.

From BBC ● Mar. 16, 2026

Succession concluded before generative A.I. overcame the creative commons, but it’s likely the budget-slashing Tom would have readily embraced the tech much as D’Amaro has.

From Slate ● Feb. 4, 2026

The Free Table began as a kind of informal commons, a collision point of surplus and need.

From Salon ● Aug. 19, 2025

Renly was beloved of the commons, but he had never before led men in war.

From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin

Burnham stood down after winning the Makerfield by-election in June to return to the House of Commons.

From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2026

Some of those critics Niblett shares the same side of the Commons with.

From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2026

At time of writing the legislation is still sitting in the Commons, with no sight of the government's amendments on proposed protections for veterans or how it will command confidence of victims and survivors.

From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026

One place he will have to abide by a formal dress code is in the House of Commons.

From BBC ● Jul. 19, 2026

It was late, and when we pulled up behind the dormitory I asked him if he wanted to come to Commons and have some dinner.

From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt