(functioning as plural) people not of noble birth viewed as forming a political order
(functioning as plural) the lower classes as contrasted to the ruling classes of society; the commonalty
(functioning as singular) a building or hall for dining, recreation, etc, usually attached to a college
(usually functioning as plural) food or rations (esp in the phrase short commons )
A commons is a piece of land that belongs to everyone in a community. The commons in the middle of a village might be a green space that's available for gatherings and celebrations. One way to think of the commons is as public land or space — roadways, town parks, public beaches, and sidewalks could all potentially be defined as part of the commons. Nobody owns the commons, and when some part of it becomes privately owned, it's called privatization. The word commons comes from the Latin root communis, which means both "in common, shared by all, or general," and also "common property."
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The good kind includes security alliances and trade deals to advance U.S. interests, plus efforts to solve tragedies of the commons like overfishing or Ebola.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026
By the time of her death she was refusing to drink, despite desperate efforts to hydrate her, and the inquest was told this was sign of hydrophobia, a fear of water commons in rabies cases.
From BBC ● Mar. 5, 2026
Succession concluded before generative A.I. overcame the creative commons, but it’s likely the budget-slashing Tom would have readily embraced the tech much as D’Amaro has.
From Slate ● Feb. 4, 2026
I’d like the city to think big on behalf of the greater good — the commons, as it used to be called — instead of the individual.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2025
“The first time I came to camp, you were sitting by the fire, in the middle of the commons area.”
From "The Last Olympian" by Rick Riordan
Following her departure from the Commons, Widdecombe appeared on the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing in 2010 and was a runner-up on Celebrity Big Brother eight years later.
From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026
The House of Commons has been approached for comment.
From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026
Labour MP for Warrington South Sarah Hall told the Commons she wanted the government to encourage US authorities to reconsider the case.
From BBC ● Jul. 16, 2026
Sir Keir also suggested installing a memorial shield in the Commons to honour Widdecombe.
From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2026
I went to Commons and sat in an armchair by the window for maybe forty-five minutes.
From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt
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.
