The word “ordinary”, ordinar, in my language has all meanings I have found in English dictionaries. In mathematics too an ordinary ratio means “fractie ordinara”.
Additionally, in my language it has a very offensive meaning too, that is if you call someone: “You are an ordinary! or: You are an ordinary man!” (used as both noun and adjective) would be the equivalent of: “You are a scoundrel, a son of a bitch that is a worthless person, of the lowest conduct, one who has no scruples, if any at all. We even avoid using this word, not to be mistaken, and rather choose customary or regular or usual.
I would like to know whether in English this word may have a similar connotation.
I am concerned whether it is safe to say ordinary people, ordinary product, object, etc.
Best Answer
I must dissent from Maulik V's statement that an ordinary person is one who does not have a quality that you “expect”. On the contrary, an ordinary person has exactly the qualities you expect in everyone, no more, no less.
In any case, ordinary has (ordinarily) no offensive connotation, unless you are specifically denying someone some excellence he has claimed to possess—and in that case the offense lies in the denial, not in the term ordinary.