noun
commons
KO-muhnz
noun
1
A shared public space, such as a dining hall at a university or a central green in a town.
"Students gathered in the commons before their morning classes."
2
Ordinary people as a group, historically distinguished from nobility and clergy.
"The revolution was led by representatives of the commons."
How to Use Commons
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA shared space or resource, or (capitalized as "the Commons") the elected lower house of the UK Parliament.
UK vs US
In the UK, "the Commons" almost always refers to the House of Commons; in the US, "commons" more often means a shared dining or gathering area on campus.
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Students gathered in the _____ before their morning classes.
Etymology
A shortened form of "House of Commons," itself from common in the sense of "the ordinary people."