Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

common touch

American  

noun

  1. the ability to communicate with, appeal to, or inspire ordinary people.


Etymology

Origin of common touch

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

On “Be My Guest with Ina Garten,” the Barefoot Contessa shares her cutting board with A-list celebrities like Jennifer Garner and Tina Fey, which is a bit light on utility and the common touch.

From Salon Jan. 30, 2026

She never lost her common touch and her insistence in "taking people as I find them" was a major contribution to her later popularity as Speaker.

From BBC Feb. 27, 2023

Even after Pope Francis appointed him as a bishop in 2015, O’Connell never lost his common touch.

From Los Angeles Times Feb. 23, 2023

Many presidents have made a point of patronizing picturesque small businesses, a way to show off their common touch and sometimes to accentuate a policy push.

From Washington Post Feb. 3, 2023

If you’re tempted to use it to show that you have the common touch, make clear that you know better: Now, ain’t that a shame!

From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Dictionary.com's Learning Companion

Go beyond just looking up words.
Remember them forever with VocabTrainer.

Start training