lowest common denominator

noun

, Mathematics.

1. least common denominator.

lowest common denominator

noun

1. the smallest integer or polynomial that is exactly divisible by each denominator of a set of fractions AbbreviationLCDlcd Also calledleast common denominator

lowest common denominator

/ lō′ĭst /

1. The least common multiple of the denominators of a set of fractions. For example, the lowest common denominator of 1 3 and 3 4 is 12.

lowest common denominator

1. The smallest number that can be divided evenly into two other numbers ( see common denominator ). When fractions with different denominators are added together, their denominators have to be made the same; thus, fractions with denominators of nine and twelve have thirty-six as a lowest common denominator. Seventy-two and 108 are also common denominators for fractions with denominators of nine and twelve, but thirty-six is the lowest.

Notes

The term lowest common denominator is often used to indicate a lowering of quality resulting from a desire to find common ground for many people: “This fall's TV programming finds the lowest common denominator of taste.”

Word History and Origins

Origin of lowest common denominator¹

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

Moving forward, perhaps the American food media could hold its readers to a higher standard rather than pandering to the lowest common denominator, which is precisely what happens when it measures women against a towering figure like Child.

From Eater

As a member-run trade association, their position is often driven by the lowest common denominator.

From ProPublica

We kind of reduce things to the lowest common denominator, in some ways for good and in some ways not for good.

From The Daily Beast

Lowest common denominator campaigning and dumb pandering in this country dates back to at least the presidential election of 1800.

From The Daily Beast

But the vast history of journalism has been about bias and yellow journalism and selling out to the lowest common denominator.

From The Daily Beast

What will sexual liberation look like at the bottom-feeding, lowest common denominator?

From The Daily Beast

Predictably, a communiqué that represents a consensus among such actors expresses a lowest common denominator.

From The Daily Beast

In a fortuitous assembly of such people the lowest common denominator of morality is easily adopted as the standard.

From Project Gutenberg

That is a result of a mathematical mind; perhaps she can reduce even names to their lowest common denominator.'

From Project Gutenberg

Life was reduced to the lowest common denominator, the natural companionship of man, woman, and nature.

From Project Gutenberg