Commonplace
/ˈkɑːmənˌpleɪs/
adjectivenounB2
Definition
Commonplace is used to describe things that are ordinary and happen often, so they are not surprising or special. As a noun, it means a usual fact or idea that many people know and accept.
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⚡ See It in Action
Adjective: Ordinary or usual; not special or new
- •It is commonplace to use smartphones in daily life.
- •Traffic jams are commonplace in big cities.
- •Wearing jeans to work has become commonplace in many offices.
Noun: A usual fact or idea that many people know
- •The idea that hard work leads to success is a commonplace.
- •It's a commonplace that exercise is good for health.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of 'commonplace' like 'normal' (A1 word), but it suggests something happens so often it feels very usual or boring
- ✓Picture a busy street where cars and people pass by every day—this scene is commonplace, nothing new
- ✓It's the feeling when you see the same thing every day, like your morning coffee or the sun rising—familiar and expected
- ✓Sounds like 'common place' → imagine a place where many common things happen all the time
- ✓Think of a story where a magic trick is not surprising because it is done so often—it's no longer special, just commonplace
- ✓NOT like 'rare' (something unusual or special), commonplace means very usual and often seen
- ✓NOT like 'unique' (one of a kind), commonplace means many people see or know it
- ✓NOT like 'extraordinary' (very special), commonplace is ordinary and regular
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Ordinary: not special or different (Use when you want to say something is simple and normal)
- •Normal: usual or expected (Use when describing what happens most of the time)
- •Frequent: happening often (Use when focusing on how often something occurs)
- •Typical: showing usual qualities (Use when something represents a common example)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Word parts: 'common' (usual, shared by many) + 'place' (location or situation)
- •Etymology: From Old French 'comun' meaning shared by all, and 'place' meaning location or situation
- •Historical development: Originally referred to a usual or public place, later extended to mean ordinary or usual things or ideas
- •Modern usage: Used to describe anything usual, ordinary, or widely accepted; also used as a noun for familiar ideas or facts
💭 Reflect & Connect
•Can something be too commonplace to be interesting? How do you feel about things you see every day?
•How does calling something commonplace affect the way people think about it—does it make it less valuable or just familiar?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.Using smartphones has become commonplace ___ in many countries because of easy internet access.
2.Traffic jams are commonplace in cities during ___ hours when many people travel.
3.Unlike rare events, commonplace things happen ___ and often without surprise.
4.Saying "practice makes perfect" is a commonplace ___ that many teachers use.
5.Wearing casual clothes at work is now commonplace, but it was ___ in the past.
6.If something is commonplace, it usually does not ___ much attention or excitement.
7.When an idea becomes commonplace, it means many people ___ and accept it.