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.

---

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

---

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

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

For him, Hussein’s death was about fighting oppression, yes, but also about putting the common good of the faithful above one’s self.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 22, 2026

Leo condemned "a deadly mix of obscure interests and indifference toward the common good, which has poisoned the natural and social environment".

From Barron's ● May 23, 2026

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

From BBC ● Apr. 26, 2026

Every cell of your body is a kind of commune, with once free-living parts all banded together for the common good.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan