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Glite Dictionary
commonalty

commonalty

9.9
Ordinary people who are not rulers or priests, especially in old times
  • noun
  • /ˈkɒmənˌælti/
  • Archaic
translation icon : común
  • During the medieval era, the commonalty often faced struggles due to the heavy taxes imposed by the nobility.

Examples

  • The king's decision to consult with the commonalty was unusual, as most rulers only valued the opinions of the noble class.

  • It's what I've also experienced: the commonalty retain their down-to-earth human qualities; they have no great expectations. Humility and genuine feelings are free, like time; there is no agenda other than to make it through the day.

    Blog text (9)

  • What is called "a sense of the meeting"—an agreement with which everyone feels comfortable—is arrived at through the expression of disparate views, within which a commonalty emerges and is discerned as the answer.

    Academic text (1993)

  • Most festivals in town are designed to engage the commonalty and celebrate the local culture.

Synonyms

common people
vscommonalty
16 1.3

People who are not rich or powerful

is mainly for feudal or historical society usage rather than general modern use
Commons
vscommonalty
  • Archaic
1 7.2

Ordinary people who are not nobles or rulers

is mainly for feudal or historical society usage rather than broad political speech

Antonyms

elite
258 4.7

A small group of the most powerful or rich people in a society

nobility
15 6.2

People who have inherited titles and special rights

Surface Forms

commonalty singular
commonalties plural

Morphology

commonalty = common (semi-transparent) = common + alty

The noun is formed from 'common' plus the rare noun-forming element '-alty'; the meaning 'the common people' is related but the suffix is unfamiliar to learners.

Etymology

Commonalty comes from the familiar word common, which means 'shared' or 'belonging to the people', so commonalty names the ordinary people or general public rather than the nobles.