Definition

A person who does not have a noble title or rank and is part of the general population.

Example

In the past, commoners had limited rights compared to nobles.

Conversation

I was reading a book about medieval society, and it mentioned the life of a commoner.

That sounds interesting! What did it say about them?

It described how commoners worked the land and lived very differently from nobles.

Yeah, I can imagine their lives were quite tough compared to the rich.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Commoner → It is formed from "common" (from Old French *comun*, meaning shared or belonging to all) and "-er" (meaning a person who). A commoner is a person who belongs to the general population, as opposed to the nobility or aristocracy.

Memory Tip

Think of someone who is part of the 'shared' ('common') group of people — that's what a commoner is.

Visually Confused Words