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common person

common person

1 1.4
A person who has no title and is an ordinary member of society
  • noun
  • /ˈkɑːmən ˈpɜːrsən/
translation icon : persona común
  • I am a common person in debt, with two kids and my fiancée on the verge of losing his job.

The common person experiences value in and through comparison.

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Examples

  • We want the dignity of work and a democratic government that responds to the needs of the common person.

    Blog text (22)
  • The common person is beginning to realize that interference by the government and bureaucracy in daily life can be reduced gradually.

    Academic text (1994)
  • The common person experiences value in and through comparison.

  • The everyday, common person with decent values.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • We were brought up believing that the Democrats supported the common person and their interests.

    Blog text (21)
  • Once established, the loyalties of the common person were to their landlord, not the state.

    Blog text (31)
  • And for a common person who hasn't ever been exposed to mindfulness or meditation before, I do think that it can be.

  • Interestingly, one can find a grain of difference in the attitudes of the common person depending on his or her religiosity.

    Academic text (2005)
  • It is leverage that can make it achievable for a common person to accomplish well above average results.

    Blog text (29)
  • The policies were designed to benefit the common person rather than the wealthy elite.

Synonyms

commoner
vscommon person
31 4.2

A person without a noble title who is an ordinary member of society

is the neutral definitional phrase used in descriptions of social rank
everyman
vscommon person
  • Literature
16 5.4

An ordinary person who most people can identify with

is the descriptive phrase for ordinary members without symbolic representation
mere mortal
vscommon person
13 5.3

An ordinary person with no special powers or status

is the formal phrase about absence of noble title not supernatural contrast
Joe
vscommon person
  • Informal
10 2.5

A regular man who stands for the average person

is the neutral descriptive phrase about rank rather than a male example
man on the street
vscommon person
10 2.7

An ordinary person who is not an expert

is a descriptive phrase about lacking rank rather than citing opinions
man in the street
vscommon person
  • Literature
5 3.4

A regular person who shows the views of most people

is a neutral descriptive phrase about title absence not public representation
vulgaris
vscommon person
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A person from the common people in historical Latin texts

is the everyday descriptive phrase not limited to historical usage
Joe Public
vscommon person
  • Literature
1 6.3

A typical person who represents what most people think

is more literal about lacking special titles rather than public representativeness
groundling
vscommon person
  • Archaic
1 9.4

An ordinary person with little social power

is broader, meaning an ordinary member rather than a low status individual
John Q. Public
vscommon person
1 6.1

An ordinary person who represents the public

is the neutral definitional phrase focusing on lack of rank not public representativeness
Joe Average
vscommon person
  • Informal
1 5.2

A typical person with no special skills or fame

is the formal definition about lacking noble title not casual typicality
Joe Citizen
vscommon person
1 4.1

An ordinary member of the public

is focused on lack of noble title rather than civic role or citizenship
nonnoble
vscommon person
7.4

A person from an ordinary family who is not part of the noble class

is the general term for ordinary members without special titles
nonaristocratic
vscommon person
5.9

A person who is not from the rich upper class

is the broader descriptive phrase for ordinary members lacking titles
non-elite
vscommon person
4.6

A person who is not part of the top or most powerful group

is narrower, focusing on absence of noble title rather than broad elite status
heimin
vscommon person
9.9

People who are not rich or powerful

is the neutral descriptive phrase not tied to cultural terms
Joe Schmoe
vscommon person
  • Slang
7.9

A name people use for an ordinary, typical man

is the formal descriptive phrase that avoids informal slightly negative tone
John Citizen
vscommon person
  • Australian
6.3

An average person used as a name to represent most people in Australia

is the general phrase about rank not regionally marked usage

Antonyms

38 6.5

A person from the highest social class, often by birth or title

How Noble

aristocrat
38 6.5
gentleman
1.4
common person
1 1.4
peasant
157 3.5

Surface Forms

common person singular

Morphology

common + person

The meaning 'an ordinary member of society / not of noble rank' is directly and compositionally derived from 'common' (ordinary, not special) + 'person' (human individual), so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can infer this sense. This adjective+noun pattern is cross-linguistically widespread (equivalent to 'ordinary person' in many languages), reinforcing its immediate transparency.

Etymology

Common person comes from the idea of the village common — land and resources that everyone in the village could use, not the private land of nobles. That's why the phrase means an 'ordinary' or 'not noble' member of society.