Phrase guide

lowest common denominator

noun · 2 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

The smallest positive integer which is a multiple of every denominator of several fractions.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: mathematics, sciences

Examples

  • The lowest common denominator of 1⁄6 and 3⁄10 is 30.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The simplest or base shared interest or characteristic among a group or collection of people etc.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively

Examples

  • Reality TV really is appealing to the lowest common denominator in audiences.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

48 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Asturian: mínimu común denominaor — smallest multiple of several denominators
  • Azerbaijani: ən kiçik ortaq məxrəc — smallest multiple of several denominators
  • Azerbaijani: ən sadə ortaq məxrəc — smallest multiple of several denominators
  • Azerbaijani: ən aşağı ortaq məxrəc — smallest multiple of several denominators
  • Azerbaijani: ən aşağı ümumi məxrəc — smallest multiple of several denominators
  • Bulgarian: най-малко общо кратно (naj-malko obšto kratno) — smallest multiple of several denominators
  • Catalan: mínim comú denominador — smallest multiple of several denominators
  • Chinese Mandarin: 最小公分母 (zuìxiǎo gōngfēnmǔ) — smallest multiple of several denominators
  • Czech: nejnižší společný jmenovatel — smallest multiple of several denominators
  • Danish: laveste fællesnævner — smallest multiple of several denominators
  • Finnish: pienin yhteinen nimittäjä — smallest multiple of several denominators
  • French: plus petit dénominateur commun — smallest multiple of several denominators
  • French: plus petit commun dénominateur — smallest multiple of several denominators
  • Galician: mínimo común denominador — smallest multiple of several denominators
  • Galician: mínimo denominador común — smallest multiple of several denominators
  • Georgian: უმცირესი საერთო მნიშვნელი (umciresi saerto mnišvneli) — smallest multiple of several denominators
  • German: kleinster gemeinsamer Nenner — smallest multiple of several denominators
  • Greek: ελάχιστος κοινός παρονομαστής (eláchistos koinós paronomastís) — smallest multiple of several denominators
  • Hebrew: מכנה משותף מינימלי (mekhané hameshutáf minimáli) — smallest multiple of several denominators
  • Hungarian: legkisebb közös nevező — smallest multiple of several denominators
  • Icelandic: minnsti samnefnari — smallest multiple of several denominators
  • Italian: minimo comune denominatore — smallest multiple of several denominators
  • Japanese: 最小公分母 (saishō kōbunbo) — smallest multiple of several denominators
  • Korean: 최소공분모 (choesogongbunmo) — smallest multiple of several denominators
  • Macedonian: најмал заеднички содржа́тел (najmal zaednički sodržátel) — smallest multiple of several denominators
  • Polish: najniższy wspólny mianownik — smallest multiple of several denominators
  • Portuguese: mínimo denominador comum — smallest multiple of several denominators
  • Romanian: cel mai mic numitor comun — smallest multiple of several denominators
  • Russian: наиме́ньший о́бщий знамена́тель (naiménʹšij óbščij znamenátelʹ) — smallest multiple of several denominators
  • Spanish: mínimo común denominador — smallest multiple of several denominators
  • Spanish: mínimo denominador común — smallest multiple of several denominators
  • Swedish: minsta gemensamma nämnare — smallest multiple of several denominators
  • Tagalog: pinakamaliit na lahatang pamahagi — smallest multiple of several denominators
  • Turkish: en küçük ortak kat — smallest multiple of several denominators
  • Turkish: ortak katların en küçüğü — smallest multiple of several denominators
  • Vietnamese: mẫu chung nhỏ nhất — smallest multiple of several denominators
  • Vietnamese: mẫu số chung nhỏ nhất — smallest multiple of several denominators
  • Chinese Mandarin: 最低共識 /最低共识 — most simple shared interest
  • Chinese Mandarin: 共同點 /共同点 (gòngtóngdiǎn) — most simple shared interest
  • Danish: laveste fællesnævner — most simple shared interest
  • Finnish: pienin yhteinen nimittäjä — most simple shared interest
  • Hebrew: הגורם המשותף הנמוך ביותר (hagorém hameshutáf hanamúkh beyotér) — most simple shared interest
  • Japanese: 最小公倍数 (saishō kōbaisū) — most simple shared interest
  • Korean: 최소공배수 (choesogongbaesu) — most simple shared interest
  • Macedonian: најмал заеднички содржа́тел (najmal zaednički sodržátel) — most simple shared interest
  • Polish: najniższy wspólny mianownik — most simple shared interest
  • Spanish: mínimo común denominador — most simple shared interest
  • Swedish: minsta gemensamma nämnare — most simple shared interest