commoner
Americannoun
-
a common person, as distinguished from one with rank, status, etc.
-
British.
-
any person ranking below a peer; a person without a title of nobility.
-
a member of the House of Commons.
-
(at Oxford and some other universities) a student who pays the cost to dine at the commons and other expenses and is not supported by any scholarship or foundation.
-
-
a person who has a joint right in common land.
noun
-
a person who does not belong to the nobility
-
a person who has a right in or over common land jointly with another or others
-
a student at a university or other institution who is not on a scholarship
Etymology
Origin of commoner
First recorded in 1350–1400; common + -er 1 ( def. )
Vocabulary lists containing commoner
Aztec, Maya, and Inca Empires - Introductory
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Aztec, Maya, and Inca Empires - Middle School and High School
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
European Colonization of North America, Lessons 3–5
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
For all his introspection, Dunk wrongfully justifies his own survival as a transaction — a king-to-be traded for a commoner.
From Salon • Feb. 25, 2026
One compares her to baseball star Shohei Ohtani, another praises her as a "commoner prime minister".
From Barron's • Feb. 4, 2026
Princess Mette-Marit married Norway's Crown Prince Haakon as a commoner when her son Marius Borg Høiby was four, and is in line to become queen when her husband accedes to the throne.
From BBC • Feb. 1, 2026
LONDON—It was supposed to be the moment a shamed prince was reduced to humble commoner.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 7, 2025
They say those gentlemen hate Captain Smith because he is a commoner who has no special respect for nobles.
From "Blood on the River" by Elisa Carbone
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
