Phrase guide

common thread

noun · 1 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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  • rhymes with -ɛd

1

noun

Meaning 1

A recurring characteristic or theme present in different events or areas.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • What is the common thread in these three stories?

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: leitmotif, throughline, golden thread, common denominator

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

18 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Azerbaijani: ana xətt — recurring characteristic or theme
  • Catalan: fil roig — recurring characteristic or theme
  • Danish: rød tråd — recurring characteristic or theme
  • Dutch: rode draad — recurring characteristic or theme
  • Finnish: yhteinen lanka — recurring characteristic or theme
  • Finnish: yhdistävä tekijä — recurring characteristic or theme
  • Finnish: punainen lanka — recurring characteristic or theme
  • French: fil rouge — recurring characteristic or theme
  • French: fil conducteur — recurring characteristic or theme
  • French: fil d'Ariane — recurring characteristic or theme
  • German: roter Faden — recurring characteristic or theme
  • Italian: filo conduttore — recurring characteristic or theme
  • Italian: filo rosso — recurring characteristic or theme
  • Polish: wspólny wątek — recurring characteristic or theme
  • Portuguese: fio condutor — recurring characteristic or theme
  • Russian: путево́дная нить (putevódnaja nitʹ) — recurring characteristic or theme
  • Spanish: hilo conductor — recurring characteristic or theme
  • Swedish: röd tråd — recurring characteristic or theme