Commonly

How to spell commonly

8 letters · 3 syllables

How to pronounce commonly

Say the part in capitals loudest.

What does commonly mean?

1. adverbIn a way that happens often or is widely shared; usually or frequently.

Commonly in a sentence

• The name is commonly misspelled with only one m.

• This herb is commonly used in Italian cooking.

Where does commonly come from?

Language of origin: Latin

The word descends from the Latin communis, meaning 'shared by all' or 'belonging to many', formed from com- 'together' and an old root linked to munus 'duty, service'. This passed into Old French as comun and entered English in the 1200s as the adjective 'common', describing things held or experienced by everyone in a community. The adverb 'commonly' was built later inside English by adding the native suffix -ly, which simply turns an adjective into a manner adverb meaning 'in a common way' or 'usually'. The same communis root also gives us 'community', 'communicate', and 'commune', all carrying that idea of something shared. The spelling trap lies in the doubled m and doubled n stacked close together, plus the shift from the -on of 'common' straight into -ly without any change.

How the word is built

• common (from Latin communis: shared by all)
• -ly (adverb suffix)