Common
Common adjective - Often observed or encountered.
Usage example: horse ranches are a common sight in that part of the state
Universal is a synonym for common in property topic. In some cases you can use "Universal" instead the word "Common" as an adjective or a noun, when it comes to topics like specific, average, popular, widespread. popular alternative
Universal
Universal adjective - Belonging or relating to the whole.
Usage example: mankind's universal need for affection
Common is a synonym for universal in general topic. You can use "Common" instead the word "Universal" as an adjective or a noun, if it concerns topics such as property, specific, prevalent, worldwide. popular alternative
Mutual synonyms
Both words in one sentence
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Like all Colour-Coded for Your Convenience/Good Colors, Evil Colors examples, this is common, but not universal, and will vary from culture to culture.
Source: Dark Is Evil - Similarly, it doesn't need to be universal in the real world, just more common than is shown in fiction.
Source: Idealized Sex - In the end, the whites stopped fighting with each other and adopted a common model of broad universal rights — but only for white citizens.
Source: Useful Notes / The Apartheid Era
Cite this Source
Universal and Common. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/common/universal
Common & Universal. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/common/universal>.
Universal or Common. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/common/universal.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "common" and "universal" have occurred on timeline