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

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

The historically anachronistic animated epic introduces its neanderthal champion, Spear, and his partner, a female Tyrannosaurus named Fang, as they find common cause in grief.

From Salon • Feb. 1, 2026

It also found circulatory diseases to be the most common cause of death at 17.6%, compared with respiratory conditions in the original report.

From BBC • Jan. 28, 2026

Mr. Johnson showed Britain that some leading voices on the American right aren’t writing off Europe and still value alliances in the common cause of defending liberty.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 23, 2026

The north would rise for either, he suspected... but Stannis Baratheon would never make common cause with an imposter.

From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin