Definitions

common denominator

NOUN

common factor

Synonyms

WEAK

common divisor common measure denominator numerator

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“In every case where a customer got into trouble, the common denominator was that the contractor didn’t obtain a permit,” said Feinberg.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 25, 2026

If Gellar didn’t have such a spellbinding screen presence, one might think she was the common denominator factor in all of these failed series.

From Salon • Mar. 26, 2026

The common denominator: Even when leagues investigate aggressively, the current system relies on prosecutors to finish the job.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 18, 2026

Sports, at its finest, can act as a cultural common denominator for our ever-fractious and divided polity.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 27, 2026

Much of this art, to be sure, is pretty shoddy—art at third- and fourth-hand, worn out by endless repetition, representing the lowest common denominator of popular taste.

From "History of Art, Volume 1" by H.W. Janson