commoner

noun

com·​mon·​er ˈkä-mə-nər How to pronounce commoner (audio)
Synonyms of commonernext
1
a
: one of the common people
b
: one who is not of noble rank
2
: a student (as at Oxford) who pays for his own board

Synonyms of commoner

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Examples of commoner in a Sentence

a prince who married a commoner
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
And the story was about King George IV of England, then the Prince of Wales, and his deep infatuation with a Catholic commoner, Maria Fitzherbert. — Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026 Letizia, the first Spanish queen to have been a commoner, and their two daughters — Princess Leonor and Princess Sofia, born in October 2005 and April 2007, respectively — were by his side for the ceremony. — Diana Pearl, PEOPLE, 31 July 2026 By the end of the month, King Charles stripped Andrew of all of his royal titles and privileges, rendering him a commoner. — Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 23 July 2026 One change allows princesses to stay in the imperial family after marrying commoners. — Brittney Melton, NPR, 17 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for commoner

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of commoner was in the 15th century

Phrases Containing commoner

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common entrance
commoner
Commoner
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Cite this Entry

“Commoner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/commoner. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

commoner

noun
com·​mon·​er ˈkäm-ə-nər How to pronounce commoner (audio)
: one of the common people : a person who is not of noble rank

Biographical Definition

Commoner

biographical name

Com·​mo·​ner ˈkä-mə-nər How to pronounce Commoner (audio)
Barry 1917–2012 American biologist and educator

More from Merriam-Webster on commoner

Nglish: Translation of commoner for Spanish Speakers

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