common cause

Idioms  

1. A joint interest, as in “The common cause against the enemies of piety” (from John Dryden's poem, Religio laici, or a Layman's Faith, 1682). This term originated as to make common cause (with), meaning “to unite one's interest with another's.” In the mid-1900s the name Common Cause was adopted by a liberal lobbying group.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

common cause

Regeneron’s flagship eye drug, Eylea, which has preserved the sight of millions of people with a common cause of blindness and generated roughly 80% of the company’s revenue at its peak, is facing increasing competition.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026

Their work is a cultural bridge much like Ashitaka’s effort to bring the worlds of beasts and men together for a common cause, depicting what Miyazaki sees as one of humanism’s central conundrums.

From Salon ● Jul. 22, 2026

Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia, and the Alzheimer's Society said it is a common misconception to question whether dementia is a normal part of ageing.

From BBC ● Jun. 5, 2026

While viral infections are the most common cause in the United States, bacteria, parasites and fungi can also cause the condition.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 28, 2026

But the riots have a common cause, as named by the civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: “A riot is the language of the unheard.”

From "A Few Red Drops: The Chicago Race Riot of 1919" by Claire Hartfield