commons

/ˈkɑmənz/

/ˈkɒmənz/

A commons is a piece of land that belongs to everyone in a community. The commons in the middle of a village might be a green space that's available for gatherings and celebrations.

One way to think of the commons is as public land or space — roadways, town parks, public beaches, and sidewalks could all potentially be defined as part of the commons. Nobody owns the commons, and when some part of it becomes privately owned, it's called privatization. The word commons comes from the Latin root communis, which means both "in common, shared by all, or general," and also "common property."

Definitions of commons

1. noun

   a pasture subject to common use
   synonyms: common land

   type of:

   grazing land, lea, ley, pasture, pastureland

   a field covered with grass or herbage and suitable for grazing by livestock
2. noun

   a piece of open land for recreational use in an urban area
   synonyms: common, green, park

   examples:

   Central Park

   a large park in Manhattan

   types:

   amusement park, funfair, pleasure ground

   an entertainment venue with stalls, shows, rides, and games

   village green

   a village park consisting of a plot of grassy land

   theme park

   an amusement park that is organized around some theme, such as "the world of tomorrow"

   type of:

   parcel, parcel of land, piece of ground, piece of land, tract

   an extended area of land
3. noun

   a class composed of persons lacking clerical or noble rank
   synonyms: commonality, commonalty

   type of:

   class, social class, socio-economic class, stratum

   people having the same social, economic, or educational status