common good

American  

noun

common goods plural

1. the advantage or benefit of all people in society or in a group.

   In spite of our differences, we shall work for the common good.

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common good British  

noun

1. the part of the property of a Scottish burgh, in the form of land or funds, that is at the disposal of the community

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• common goods
  plural

Etymology

Origin of common good

First recorded in 1350–1400

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

common good

We demonstrated that a team built on good people — supportive people, people who hold values and principles that prioritize the common good over individual interests.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2026

He was a leading figure of the “Young England” movement that advocated for patricians to uphold a common good against business or political interests.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 12, 2026

"I trust he will now reinvent cooperation among the willing for the common good of all," Lagarde wrote.

From BBC ● Apr. 26, 2026

But his morality is not guided by ethics, humanism or respect for the common good.

From Salon ● Mar. 10, 2026

"Been working for the common good? Splendid. I want you to do that every morning."

From "The Sun Also Rises" by Ernest Hemingway