Commoner Meaning
/ˈkɒm.ə.nə(ɹ)/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
adjcomparative form of common: more common
nounA member of the common people who holds no title or rank.
Sentence Examples
It fascinates many that Prince William would marry a commoner.
One of England's kings abdicated the throne in order to marry a commoner.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Antonyms:
CEFR Practice Quiz
In medieval times, a ____ rarely had the chance to become a noble.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Despite being a humble ____, he ended up marrying the princess.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree English common English -er English commoner From common + -er (comparative suffix).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Sunday [train] services were far commoner than in later years."
— 1952 January, M. D. Greville, “Scottish Railways in 1852”, in Railway Magazine, page 16:
"All below them [the peers], even their children, were commoners, and in the eye of the law equal to each other."
— 1827, Henry Hallam, The Constitutional History of England from the Accession of Henry VII. to the Death of George II. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: John Murray, […], →OCLC:
"It was revealed on Friday that Mountbatten Windsor is in line to receive a large one-off payment and an annual stipend designed to prevent him overspending in his new life as a commoner after a back-and-forth about where he would go after leaving Royal Lodge."
— 2025 November 1, Sammy Gecsoyler, “Andrew hoped to meet Jeffrey Epstein after his prison release, emails reveal”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:
"There are to this day fellow-commoners at Queens, and surely such a distinguished commoner as Fuller would have been allowed to remain on that foundation, in which he had spent seven years, in this new capacity. The expense would have been about the same, and the only way in which I can account for his migration is either pique at being passed over, or the friendship of so famed a theologian as Dr. Ward."
— 1886, Rev. Morris Joseph Fuller, “College Days (Sydney-Sussex). 1629-1631”, in The Life, Times and Writings of Thomas Fuller, D.D., 2nd edition, volume 1, London: S. Sonnenschein, Le Bas & Lowrey, pages 68–69:
"Much good land might be gained from forests […] and from other commonable places, so as always there be a due care taken that the poor commoners have no injury."
— 1627 (indicated as 1626), Francis [Bacon], “(please specify the page, or |century=I to X)”, in Sylua Syluarum: Or A Naturall Historie. In Ten Centuries. […], London: […] William Rawley […]; [p]rinted by J[ohn] H[aviland] for William Lee […], →OCLC:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
In medieval times, a ____ rarely had the chance to become a noble.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Despite being a humble ____, he ended up marrying the princess.