Common vs. Similar — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on May 7, 2024
Common refers to something frequently occurring or shared by many, while similar means sharing likeness or resemblance between things.
Difference Between Common and Similar
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Common refers to something that is frequently found, observed, or shared among groups. Similar, on the other hand, denotes likeness between things or people that aren't identical but have resemblances.
Common can describe shared ownership or attributes among people, such as a common language. Similar, in contrast, compares the resemblance between distinct items or ideas, like two people with similar tastes.
Common applies to characteristics or features that are widespread or universal, like a common understanding. Similar indicates that things or people bear some resemblance, as in two similar products differing only in color.
Commonly found items like common plants are abundant in nature. Similar plants might share some visual characteristics but have different classifications.
Commonality often implies a shared trait, condition, or behavior among individuals. Similarity, however, emphasizes likeness in structure or appearance between two distinct items.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Frequently occurring or shared by many
Having a likeness or resemblance
Usage Context
Frequency, shared ownership, universality
Comparisons between objects, ideas, people
Example
Common language spoken by a community
Similar languages with shared roots
Characteristics
Universal, widespread
Comparable, resembling
Relationship
Often implies shared ownership
Implies likeness without being identical
Compare with Definitions
Common
Occurring frequently or regularly.
Sneezing is a common symptom of allergies.
Similar
Having a resemblance to something else.
The twins have similar facial features.
Common
Shared by many people or a community.
English is a common language spoken globally.
Similar
Sharing attributes without being identical.
The two recipes require similar ingredients.
Common
Ordinary or typical.
He wore a common pair of jeans and a T-shirt.
Similar
Comparable in appearance or nature.
Their new logo is very similar to the old one.
Common
Publicly accessible or used by all.
The park is a common space for everyone to enjoy.
Similar
Having comparable qualities.
They have similar interests in music and sports.
Common
Not unique or exceptional.
A common belief is that hard work leads to success.
Similar
Almost but not exactly the same.
These two novels are quite similar in theme.
Common
Belonging equally to or shared equally by two or more; joint
Common interests.
Similar
Having a resemblance in appearance, character, or quantity, without being identical
Northern India and similar areas
A soft cheese similar to Brie
Common
Of or relating to the community as a whole; public
For the common good.
Similar
A person or thing similar to another
He was one of those whose similar you never meet
Common
Widespread; prevalent
Gas stations became common as the use of cars grew.
Similar
A substance that produces effects resembling the symptoms of particular diseases (the basis of homeopathic treatment)
The principle of treatment by similars
Common
Occurring frequently or habitually; usual
It is common for movies to last 90 minutes or more.
Similar
Having a resemblance in appearance or nature; alike though not identical.
Common
Most widely known; ordinary
The common housefly.
Similar
(Mathematics) Having corresponding angles equal and corresponding line segments proportional. Used of geometric figures
Similar triangles.
Common
Having no special designation, status, or rank
A common sailor.
Similar
Having traits or characteristics in common; alike, comparable.
My new car is similar to my old one, except it has a bit more space in the back.
Common
Not distinguished by superior or noteworthy characteristics; average
The common spectator.
Similar
(mathematics) Of geometrical figures including triangles, squares, ellipses, arcs and more complex figures, having the same shape but possibly different size, rotational orientation, and position; in particular, having corresponding angles equal and corresponding line segments proportional; such that one can be had from the other using a sequence of rotations, translations and scalings.
Common
Of no special quality; standard
Common procedure.
Similar
Of two square matrices; being such that a conjugation sends one matrix to the other.
Common
Of mediocre or inferior quality; second-rate
Common cloth.
Similar
That which is similar to, or resembles, something else, as in quality, form, etc.
Common
Unrefined or coarse in manner; vulgar
Behavior that branded him as common.
Similar
(homeopathy) A material that produces an effect that resembles the symptoms of a particular disease.
Common
Either masculine or feminine in gender.
Similar
Exactly corresponding; resembling in all respects; precisely like.
Common
Representing one or all of the members of a class; not designating a unique entity.
Similar
Nearly corresponding; resembling in many respects; somewhat like; having a general likeness.
Common
Commons The common people; commonalty.
Similar
Homogenous; uniform.
Common
The social class composed of commoners.
Similar
That which is similar to, or resembles, something else, as in quality, form, etc.
Common
The parliamentary representatives of this class.
Similar
Marked by correspondence or resemblance;
Similar food at similar prices
Problems similar to mine
They wore similar coats
Common
Commons The House of Commons.
Similar
Having the same or similar characteristics;
All politicians are alike
They looked utterly alike
Friends are generaly alike in background and taste
Common
A tract of land, usually in a centrally located spot, belonging to or used by a community as a whole
A band concert on the village common.
Similar
Resembling or similar; having the same or some of the same characteristics; often used in combination;
Suits of like design
A limited circle of like minds
Members of the cat family have like dispositions
As like as two peas in a pod
Doglike devotion
A dreamlike quality
Common
The legal right of a person to use the lands or waters of another, as for fishing.
Similar
(of words) expressing closely related meanings
Common
Commons(used with a sing. verb) A building or hall for dining, typically at a university or college.
Similar
Capable of replacing or changing places with something else;
Interchangeable parts
Common
Common stock.
Common
(Ecclesiastical) A service used for a particular class of festivals.
Common
Mutual; shared by more than one.
The two competitors have the common aim of winning the championship.
Winning the championship is an aim common to the two competitors.
Common
Occurring or happening regularly or frequently; usual.
It is common to find sharks off this coast.
Common
Found in large numbers or in a large quantity; usual.
Commoner used to be commoner, but more common is now more common.
Sharks are common in these waters.
It differs from the common blackbird in the size of its beak.
Common
Simple, ordinary or vulgar.
Common
(grammar) Of, pertaining or belonging to the common gender.
Common
(grammar) Of or pertaining to common nouns as opposed to proper nouns.
Common
Vernacular, referring to the name of a kind of plant or animal, i.e., common name vs. scientific name.
Common
(obsolete) Profane; polluted.
Common
(obsolete) Given to lewd habits; prostitute.
Common
Mutual good, shared by more than one.
Common
A tract of land in common ownership; common land.
Common
The people; the community.
Common
(legal) The right of taking a profit in the land of another, in common either with the owner or with other persons; so called from the community of interest which arises between the claimant of the right and the owner of the soil, or between the claimants and other commoners entitled to the same right.
Common
(obsolete) To communicate (something).
Common
(obsolete) To converse, talk.
Common
(obsolete) To participate.
Common
(obsolete) To have a joint right with others in common ground.
Common
(obsolete) To board together; to eat at a table in common.
Common
Belonging or relating equally, or similarly, to more than one; as, you and I have a common interest in the property.
Though life and sense be common to men and brutes.
Common
Belonging to or shared by, affecting or serving, all the members of a class, considered together; general; public; as, properties common to all plants; the common schools; the Book of Common Prayer.
Such actions as the common good requireth.
The common enemy of man.
Common
Often met with; usual; frequent; customary.
Grief more than common grief.
Common
Not distinguished or exceptional; inconspicuous; ordinary; plebeian; - often in a depreciatory sense.
The honest, heart-felt enjoyment of common life.
This fact was infamousAnd ill beseeming any common man,Much more a knight, a captain and a leader.
Above the vulgar flight of common souls.
Common
Profane; polluted.
What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
Common
Given to habits of lewdness; prostitute.
A dame who herself was common.
Common
The people; the community.
Common
An inclosed or uninclosed tract of ground for pleasure, for pasturage, etc., the use of which belongs to the public; or to a number of persons.
Common
The right of taking a profit in the land of another, in common either with the owner or with other persons; - so called from the community of interest which arises between the claimant of the right and the owner of the soil, or between the claimants and other commoners entitled to the same right.
Common
To converse together; to discourse; to confer.
Embassadors were sent upon both parts, and divers means of entreaty were commoned of.
Common
To participate.
Common
To have a joint right with others in common ground.
Common
To board together; to eat at a table in common.
Common
A piece of open land for recreational use in an urban area;
They went for a walk in the park
Common
Belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public;
For the common good
Common lands are set aside for use by all members of a community
Common
Of no special distinction or quality; widely known or commonly encountered; average or ordinary or usual;
The common man
A common sailor
The common cold
A common nuisance
Followed common procedure
It is common knowledge that she lives alone
The common housefly
A common brand of soap
Common
Common to or shared by two or more parties;
A common friend
The mutual interests of management and labor
Common
Commonly encountered;
A common (or familiar) complaint
The usual greeting
Common
Being or characteristic of or appropriate to everyday language;
Common parlance
A vernacular term
Vernacular speakers
The vulgar tongue of the masses
The technical and vulgar names for an animal species
Common
Of or associated with the great masses of people;
The common people in those days suffered greatly
Behavior that branded him as common
His square plebeian nose
A vulgar and objectionable person
The unwashed masses
Common
Of low or inferior quality or value;
Of what coarse metal ye are molded
Produced...the common cloths used by the poorer population
Common
Lacking refinement or cultivation or taste;
He had coarse manners but a first-rate mind
Behavior that branded him as common
An untutored and uncouth human being
An uncouth soldier--a real tough guy
Appealing to the vulgar taste for violence
The vulgar display of the newly rich
Common
To be expected; standard;
Common decency
Common Curiosities
Can something common also be similar?
Yes, common items can also be similar to each other, but they don't always have to be.
Can common also mean "ordinary"?
Yes, it can imply something is ordinary or typical in quality or nature.
What is a common misconception?
It's a belief that is widely held but is actually incorrect.
Are similar traits the same as common traits?
No, similar traits resemble each other but don't necessarily have to be widely shared.
Can two people have similar yet uncommon preferences?
Yes, two people can have preferences that resemble each other even if they are not widespread.
Can two completely different things still be considered similar?
They can if they share certain characteristics despite being fundamentally different.
What does "common ownership" mean?
It refers to a situation where a resource or property is owned collectively by a group.
Does "common" imply something negative?
Not necessarily, though it can if used to describe something ordinary or inferior.
Is a similar item always common?
No, something can be similar without being widespread or frequently encountered.
What is the primary distinction between common and similar?
Common refers to something frequently occurring or shared, while similar means things or people have a likeness.
How are common interests different from similar interests?
Common interests are shared among multiple people, while similar interests mean having related but not identical preferences.
How do you recognize something similar?
By comparing attributes or characteristics that show a degree of resemblance.
Is "common" used more in everyday speech than "similar"?
Both are frequently used but in different contexts depending on the topic.
How would you use "common" in legal terms?
In legal contexts, it often means something shared by a group, like common property.
Does "similar" always mean identical?
No, similar means there are resemblances but not complete identity.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
