common noun
2 synonyms and 1 antonym for common noun, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A noun that names a general class of person, place, thing or idea rather than a particular one, and which is not capitalised unless it begins a sentence.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
generic noun
appellative
Antonyms
proper noun
How to use common noun
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
a common noun and a proper noun
functions as a common noun
the plural of a common noun
A standard grammar term used from primary school onwards.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a common noun and a proper noun?
A common noun names any member of a group — city, dog, teacher — while a proper noun names one specific member, such as Madrid, Rex or Mrs Okafor. Proper nouns take a capital letter wherever they appear; common nouns only take one at the start of a sentence or in a title.
Can a common noun ever be capitalised?
Yes, but only for reasons other than being a name: at the start of a sentence, in headings and titles, or when it forms part of a proper name, as in "Oxford Street" or "Lake Victoria". On its own, "street" or "lake" stays lower case.
Are abstract nouns common nouns?
Usually, yes. Words such as freedom, anger and beauty name general concepts rather than specific entities, so they behave as common nouns. The common/proper split is about whether a noun names one particular thing, not about whether you can touch it.
