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common noun

By Richard Nordquist, About.com

Definition:

A noun that can be preceded by the definite article and that represents one or all of the members of a class. Contrast with proper noun.

Examples:

  • "Often it does seem a pity that Noah and his party did not miss the boat."
    (Mark Twain)


  • "Canada is a country whose main exports are hockey players and cold fronts. Our main imports are baseball players and acid rain."
    (Pierre Trudeau)


  • "I was thrown out of college for cheating on the metaphysics exam; I looked into the soul of the boy sitting next to me."
    (Woody Allen)


  • "The reason grandparents and grandchildren get along so well is that they have a common enemy."
    (Sam Levenson)

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