different between common vs informal

English

Etymology

From Middle English comun, from Anglo-Norman comun, from Old French comun (rare in the Gallo-Romance languages, but reinforced as a Carolingian calque of Proto-West Germanic *gemeini, gamaini (“common”) in Old French), from Latin comm?nis (“common, public, general”), from Proto-Indo-European *?om-moy-ni- (“held in common”). Displaced native Middle English imene, ?em?ne (“common, general, universal”) (from Old English ?em?ne (“common, universal”)), Middle English mene, m?ne (“mean, common”) (also from Old English ?em?ne (“common, universal”)), Middle English samen, somen (“in common, together”) (from Old English samen (“together”)). Doublet of gmina.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) enPR: k?m'?n, IPA^(key): /?k?m?n/
• (General American) enPR: k?m'?n, IPA^(key): /?k?m?n/
• (obsolete) enPR: k?m'?n, IPA^(key): /?k?m?n/
• Rhymes: -?m?n
• Hyphenation: com?mon

Adjective

common (comparative commoner or more common, superlative commonest or most common)

1. Mutual; shared by more than one.

2. Occurring or happening regularly or frequently; usual.

3. Found in large numbers or in a large quantity; usual.

   ' Commoner' used to be commoner, but 'more common' is now more common.

4. Simple, ordinary or vulgar.
   • 1893, Florian Cajori, A History of Mathematics

     If it be asked wherein the utility of some modern extensions of mathematics lies, it must be acknowledged that it is at present difficult to see how they are ever to become applicable to questions of common life or physical science.

   • 1768, Arthur Murphy, Zenobia

     above the vulgar flight of common souls

   • She was frankly disappointed. For some reason she had thought to discover a burglar of one or another accepted type—either a dashing cracksman in full-blown evening dress, lithe, polished, pantherish, or a common yegg, a red-eyed, unshaven burly brute in the rags and tatters of a tramp.

5. (grammar) In some languages, particularly Germanic languages, of the gender originating from the coalescence of the masculine and feminine categories of nouns.
6. (grammar) Of or pertaining to common nouns as opposed to proper nouns.
7. Vernacular, referring to the name of a kind of plant or animal, i.e., common name vs. scientific name.
8. (obsolete) Profane; polluted.
9. (obsolete) Given to lewd habits; prostitute.

Synonyms

• (mutual): mutual, shared; see also Thesaurus:joint
• (usual): normal, ordinary, standard, usual; see also Thesaurus:common
• (occurring in large numbers or in a large quantity): widespread; see also Thesaurus:widespread
• (ordinary): common-or-garden, everyday; see also Thesaurus:normal
• (grammar, gender of coalescence of masculine of feminine): epicene
• (grammar, antonym of proper): appellative
• (vernacular): common parlance

Antonyms

• (mutual): personal, individual, peculiar; see also Thesaurus:sole
• (usual): special, exceptional, rare, uncommon; see also Thesaurus:strange
• (occurring in large numbers or in a large quantity): rare, uncommon, few and far between
• (ordinary): exceptional, extraordinary, noteworthy, special
• (vernacular): technical term

See also

• (grammar, gender of coalescence of masculine of feminine): feminine, masculine, neuter

Translations

Noun

common (plural commons)

1. Mutual good, shared by more than one.
2. A tract of land in common ownership; common land.
3. The people; the community.
4. (law) 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.

Translations

Verb

common (third-person singular simple present commons, present participle commoning, simple past and past participle commoned)

1. (obsolete) To communicate (something).
   • 1526, William Tyndale, trans, Bible, Luke XXII:

     Then entred Satan into Judas, whose syr name was iscariot (which was of the nombre off the twelve) and he went his waye, and commened with the hye prestes and officers, how he wolde betraye hym vnto them.

2. (obsolete) To converse, talk.
   • 1568-1569, Richard Grafton, Chronicle

     Capitaine generall of Flaunders, which amiably enterteyned the sayd Duke, and after they had secretly commoned of.

3. (obsolete) To have sex.
4. (obsolete) To participate.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Sir Thomas More to this entry?)

5. (obsolete) To have a joint right with others in common ground.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Johnson to this entry?)

6. (obsolete) To board together; to eat at a table in common.

Derived terms

References

• common at OneLook Dictionary Search
• common in Keywords for Today: A 21st Century Vocabulary, edited by The Keywords Project, Colin MacCabe, Holly Yanacek, 2018.
• common in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

English

Etymology

From in- +? formal.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /?n?f??m(?)l/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?n?f??m(?)l/
• Hyphenation: in?for?mal
• Rhymes: -??(?)m?l

Adjective

informal (comparative more informal, superlative most informal)

1. Not formal or ceremonious.

2. Not in accord with the usual regulations.

3. Suited for everyday use.

4. (of language) Reflecting everyday, non-ceremonious usage.
5. (horticulture) Not organized; not structured or planned.

Synonyms

• (not formal or ceremonious): casual
• (not in accord with the usual regulations): unofficial
• (suited for everyday use): casual
• (language: reflecting everyday, non-ceremonious usage): colloquial

Antonyms

• formal

Derived terms

• informality
• informally
• semi-informal

Translations

Anagrams

• formalin

Catalan

Etymology

in- +? formal

Pronunciation

• (Balearic, Valencian) IPA^(key): /im.fo??mal/
• (Central) IPA^(key): /im.fur?mal/

Adjective

informal (masculine and feminine plural informals)

1. informal

Derived terms

• informalment

Further reading

• “informal” in Diccionari de la llengua catalana, segona edició, Institut d’Estudis Catalans.

Galician

Adjective

informal m or f (plural informais)

1. informal

Antonyms

• formal

Derived terms

• informalmente

Further reading

• “informal” in Dicionario da Real Academia Galega, Royal Galician Academy.

Portuguese

Adjective

informal m or f (plural informais, comparable)

1. informal (not formal or ceremonious)

Further reading

• “informal” in Dicionário Aberto based on Novo Diccionário da Língua Portuguesa de Cândido de Figueiredo, 1913

Spanish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /info??mal/, [??.fo??mal]

Adjective

informal (plural informales)

1. informal

   Antonym: formal

Derived terms

• falacia formal
• informalidad
• informalmente

Further reading

• “informal” in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014.