Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
common noun
Noun
/ˈkɒmən naʊn/
Definition
A common noun is a general name for a person, place, thing, or idea, as opposed to a specific one.
Examples
- dog – A common noun referring to any dog rather than a specific breed.
- city – This refers to any city, not a specific one like New York.
- car – A general term for any automobile, as opposed to a brand name like Toyota.
Meaning
It refers to non-specific items and does not capitalize the noun, contrasting with proper nouns which name specific entities.
Synonyms
- general noun
- non-specific noun
- generic noun
