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

His film takes a bird’s-eye approach to conflict, carefully studying how the systems set in place for our common good, on either side of the party or religious lines, can cause plenty of damage, too.

From Salon ● Sep. 19, 2026

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

Dame Sarah said the Pope's message "reminded us that despite our sufferings, people long for life in all its fullness and countless people are working each day for this vision of the common good".

From BBC ● Apr. 27, 2026

Instead of erecting burdensome bureaucratic roadblocks that would stifle progress, we should encourage responsible innovation that serves human dignity and the common good.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 6, 2026

To this day, for Indigenous peoples the land and its resources are “home” and exist for the common good of the people who share it.

From "An Indigenous People’s History of the United States" by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz