common denominator

Save This Word!

See synonyms for common denominator on Thesaurus.com

noun

Mathematics. a number that is a multiple of all the denominators of a set of fractions.

a trait, characteristic, belief, or the like common to or shared by all members of a group: Dedication to the cause of freedom was the common denominator of the American revolutionaries.

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of common denominator

First recorded in 1585–95

Words nearby common denominator

common chord, common cold, Common Core, common cost, common council, common denominator, common difference, common disaster, common divisor, Common Entrance, commoner

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use common denominator in a sentence

A common denominator for many LGBTQ people throughout the world — in differing cultures and under divergent political systems — has been the oppression of hiding our secret love.
‘Firebird’ is an instantly classic LGBTQ love story|Rob Watson|August 24, 2021|Washington Blade
The common denominator for successful on-screen engagements is how consumers choose to interact with their environment.
How brands and publishers are capitalizing on mobile video ad trends in 2021|Ogury|April 6, 2021|Digiday
The conversation ends up taking its direction, a pretty normal direction every time anyway, just because you’re the common denominator.
Danica Patrick on Why She Never Loved Racing and Her Post-Track Career|Joshua Eferighe|January 30, 2021|Ozy
“The common denominator between all of them is that their governments have created a clarity about how they would regulate different digital assets, different cryptocurrencies,” he said.
Ripple releases shortlist of 5 countries it might move to if U.S. regulation remains unclear|Claire Zillman, reporter|October 22, 2020|Fortune

The common denominator between them was the heavy use of sales language on pages meant to be staunchly informational.
Did Google just hint at an authority profile?|Mordy Oberstein|September 21, 2020|Search Engine Land
The email appears to have been a relatively common attempt to gain personal information from a wide range of unwitting victims.
Was Sony Hit With a Second Hack?|Shane Harris|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The vaccine is delivered through a “carrier virus” that causes a common cold in chimpanzees but does not affect humans.
The Race for the Ebola Vaccine|Abby Haglage|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Another read: “We need leaders who will stand against Common Core.”
Rand Paul’s Passive-Aggressive Trolling Campaign|Olivia Nuzzi|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Finding the common bonds that help us realize that we have far more in common than that which separates us.
In 2015, Let’s Try for More Compassion|Gene Robinson|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
At the time, screen quotas were far more common among film producing industries.
Propaganda, Protest, and Poisonous Vipers: The Cinema War in Korea|Rich Goldstein|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Smooth Naked Horsetail is a common plant, specially by the sides of streams and pools.
How to Know the Ferns|S. Leonard Bastin
I would ask you to imagine it translated into every language, a common material of understanding throughout all the world.
The Salvaging Of Civilisation|H. G. (Herbert George) Wells
Our social life is aimless without it, we are a crowd without a common understanding.
The Salvaging Of Civilisation|H. G. (Herbert George) Wells
Diplococci without capsules are common in the sputum, but have no special significance.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd
He had discovered that the all-glorious boast of Spain was not exempt from the infirmities of common men.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4|Jane Porter

British Dictionary definitions for common denominator

common denominator

noun

an integer exactly divisible by each denominator of a group of fractions: 1/3, 1/4, and 1/6 have a common denominator of 12

a belief, attribute, etc, held in common by members of a class or group

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for common denominator

common denominator

A quantity into which all the denominators of a set of fractions may be divided without a remainder. For example, the fractions 13 and 25 have a common denominator of 15.

Cultural definitions for common denominator

common denominator

A number that will allow fractions with different denominators to be converted into fractions with the same denominator, so that these fractions can be added or subtracted. The fractions can be expressed as whole numbers divided by the common denominator. Thus, 12 is a common denominator for 1/3 and 1/4, since they can be written as 4/12 and 3/12, respectively. (See lowest common denominator.)

notes for common denominator

Figuratively, a common denominator is a common factor in different events: “The common denominator in these crimes is the use of inside knowledge of computer systems.”

common denominator

Origin of common denominator

Words nearby common denominator

Words related to common denominator

How to use common denominator in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for common denominator

Scientific definitions for common denominator

Cultural definitions for common denominator

notes for common denominator