Phrase guide

common knowledge

noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

That which is known by most people, and thus cannot reasonably be contested.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A special kind of knowledge for a group of agents, such that when all the agents in a group G know p, they all know that they know p, they all know that they all know that they know p, and so on ad infinitum.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

Topics: computing, engineering, game-theory, human-sciences, logic, mathematics, natural-sciences, philosophy, physical-sciences, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

anything generally known to everyone

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: public knowledge, general knowledge

Narrower terms: ancient history

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

24 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 常識 /常识 (chángshí) — that which is known by most people
  • Danish: allemandsviden — that which is known by most people
  • Danish: almenviden — that which is known by most people
  • Esperanto: ĝenerale konata — that which is known by most people
  • Finnish: yleinen tieto — that which is known by most people
  • French: de notoriété publique — that which is known by most people
  • German: Allgemeinwissen — that which is known by most people
  • German: Allgemeinbildung — that which is known by most people
  • Greek: κοινή γνώση (koiní gnósi) — that which is known by most people
  • Hungarian: közismert/köztudomású/tudvalevő dolog/tény — that which is known by most people
  • Polish: wiedza powszechna — that which is known by most people
  • Romanian: cultură generală — that which is known by most people
  • Russian: всем известный факт (vsem izvestnyj fakt) — that which is known by most people
  • Spanish: saber popular — that which is known by most people
  • Spanish: conocimiento general — that which is known by most people
  • Spanish: dominio público — that which is known by most people
  • Chinese Mandarin: 共同知識 /共同知识 (gòngtóng zhīshi) — special kind of knowledge for a group of agents
  • Dutch: gemeenschappelijke kennis — special kind of knowledge for a group of agents
  • Finnish: täydellinen informaatio — special kind of knowledge for a group of agents
  • French: connaissance commune — special kind of knowledge for a group of agents
  • German: gemeinsames Wissen — special kind of knowledge for a group of agents
  • German: gemeinsames Vorwissen — special kind of knowledge for a group of agents
  • Greek: κοινή γνώση (koiní gnósi) — special kind of knowledge for a group of agents
  • Italian: conoscenza comune — special kind of knowledge for a group of agents