commonness
/ˈkä-mə(n)-nəs/ (ame, mw)
commonness — noun
1. A quality belonging to all people within a group, such as a shared interest, exp
A quality belonging to all people within a group, such as a shared interest, experience, or goal, which creates a sense of connection among them.
Despite growing up on different continents, the two scientists were drawn together by a commonness of purpose.
commonness of [abstract noun] — shared quality
The commonness of experience among the earthquake survivors created bonds that lasted for decades.
What amazed the researchers was the commonness of certain superstitions across cultures that had never been in contact.
When the factory closed, a commonness of need brought the neighbourhood together to start a food co-op.
The festival highlighted the commonness of cultural roots shared by the island communities of the Pacific.
- sharedness
more technical, used in social sciences
- mutuality
emphasises reciprocal nature of the sharing
- community
broader; can refer to the group itself rather than the quality
- collectivity
formal, stresses the group as a whole rather than individual members
- difference
simple, everyday opposite
- divergence
suggests a growing apart rather than static difference
文法句型
commonness of [noun phrase]
用法筆記
Frequently followed by an of-phrase that names the shared attribute (commonness of purpose, commonness of experience). Often used in contexts discussing group dynamics or social ties.
常見錯誤
2. The condition of being normal, frequent, or unremarkable — something that happen
The condition of being normal, frequent, or unremarkable — something that happens often, appears in many places, or has no outstanding qualities.
The commonness of street markets in Thailand means that even tourists quickly stop paying attention to them.
the commonness of [thing] in [place]
Wei was struck by the commonness of the houses — row after row of identical grey concrete blocks with no character.
There was nothing wrong with the soup, but its very commonness made it completely forgettable.
The commonness of the surname 'Kim' in Korea means that people often use full names even among friends.
Ananya chose a different wedding dress because the one in the shop window had a commonness she wanted to avoid.
- ordinariness
direct synonym with no extra nuance
- prevalence
focuses on frequency rather than lack of special quality
- banality
stronger negative connotation; suggests dullness or triteness
- familiarity
neutral or positive — known because encountered often
- rarity
focuses on infrequency
- uniqueness
focuses on the quality of being one of a kind
文法句型
the commonness of [noun phrase]
用法筆記
Can carry a mildly dismissive tone, implying that something is so ordinary it is not worth noticing. The modifier 'very' before 'commonness' (e.g. 'its very commonness') is a common literary device contrasting expected value with actual banality.
3. Behaviour, speech, or appearance that shows a lack of good education, refined ta
Behaviour, speech, or appearance that shows a lack of good education, refined taste, or social polish, often considered unappealing by those with more sophisticated standards.
The restaurant's plastic tablecloths and flashing neon signs gave it a commonness that tourists found charming but local food critics dismissed.
commonness as judgment of taste
Elena's grandmother complained about the commonness of modern clothing, saying young people dressed without any grace or elegance.
Vikram's habit of telling loud jokes and using coarse language at the formal dinner revealed a commonness that embarrassed his colleagues.
The art critic dismissed the paintings as having a commonness of taste that appealed only to buyers who knew nothing about art history.
- vulgarity
stronger, more offensive — implies crudeness that shocks
- coarseness
focuses on roughness of manners or language
- crudeness
suggests lack of subtlety rather than active offensiveness
- refinement
direct opposite
- sophistication
worldly knowledge and good taste
- elegance
graceful and stylish quality
文法句型
commonness of [noun phrase]
用法筆記
Express a value judgment about someone's manners, education, or aesthetic choices. Frequently used in social commentary or literary criticism. The 'commonness of taste' pattern is especially common in art and design criticism.
常見錯誤
4. Vulgar or morally unrestrained behaviour, especially referring to sexual matters
Vulgar or morally unrestrained behaviour, especially referring to sexual matters — a term now considered old-fashioned and rarely used in modern everyday language.
In Victorian novels, a female character's commonness was often hinted at through her lack of proper restraint around men.
dated usage — moral judgment in historical context
The magazine was criticised for the commonness of its content, which seemed intended only to shock readers with its indecency.
Scholars note that the accusation of commonness was used in the 19th century to police the behaviour of women from lower social classes.
A reviewer from the 1920s condemned the play for its commonness, calling it unfit for respectable audiences.
- vulgarity
modern equivalent; broader, covers crude behaviour of all kinds
- promiscuity
more specific — unrestrained sexual behaviour
- indecency
focuses on violation of social norms rather than class
文法句型
commonness of [person/behaviour]
用法筆記
Now dated and rarely used in this sense. If you need this meaning in modern English, use 'vulgarity', 'indecency', or 'promiscuity' instead, depending on the exact shade of meaning required. The term carries strong class overtones from its historical use.