Common Lisp is a high-level programming language that belongs to the Lisp family, known for its unique parenthesis-heavy syntax. It was standardized in the 1980s to unify various dialects of Lisp, making it easier for developers to share code and ideas. This language supports multiple programming paradigms, including functional, procedural, and object-oriented programming. Common Lisp is particularly valued for its powerful features, such as dynamic typing, garbage collection, and a rich set of built-in functions, making it suitable for a wide range of applications, from artificial intelligence to web development.