commonplace

[kom-uhn-pleys]

adjective

1. ordinary; undistinguished or uninteresting; without individuality.

   a commonplace person.

2. trite; hackneyed; platitudinous.

   a commonplace remark.

noun

1. a well-known, customary, or obvious remark; a trite or uninteresting saying.

   Synonyms: stereotype, platitude, bromide, cliché

2. anything common, ordinary, or uninteresting.

3. Archaic.,  a place or passage in a book or writing noted as important for reference or quotation.

commonplace

/ ˈkɒmənˌpleɪs /

adjective

1. ordinary; everyday

   commonplace duties

2. dull and obvious; trite

   commonplace prose

noun

1. something dull and trite, esp a remark; platitude; truism

2. a passage in a book marked for inclusion in a commonplace book, etc

3. an ordinary or common thing

Other Word Forms

• commonplacely adverb
• commonplaceness noun
• uncommonplace adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of commonplace¹

1525–35; translation of Latin locus commūnis, itself translation of Greek koinòs tópos

Word History and Origins

Origin of commonplace¹

C16: translation of Latin locus commūnis argument of wide application, translation of Greek koinos topos

Synonym Study

Commonplace, banal, hackneyed, stereotyped, trite describe words, remarks, and styles of expression that are lifeless and uninteresting. Commonplace characterizes thought that is dull, ordinary, and platitudinous: commonplace and boring. Something is banal that seems inane, insipid, and pointless: a heavy-handed and banal affirmation of the obvious. Hackneyed characterizes something that seems stale and worn out through overuse: a hackneyed comparison. Stereotyped emphasizes the fact that situations felt to be similar invariably call for the same thought in exactly the same form and the same words: so stereotyped as to seem automatic. Trite describes something that was originally striking and apt, but which has become so well-known and been so commonly used that all interest has been worn out of it: true but trite.

Example Sentences

So-called "sharenting" - documenting a child's special moments on social media - has become commonplace, but academics now warn this could come with unexpected risks.

From BBC

Gunther Sanabria, an immigration lawyer who has represented clients inside "Alligator Alcatraz", said it has become commonplace for people detained by ICE not to show up in the official locator system.

From BBC

Non-dairy milk has become so commonplace and normalized that a handful of coffee chains have stopped charging extra for such plant-based alternatives.

From Salon

Pickle lemonade may have become a newfound trend, but the concept of incorporating pickle brine into commonplace beverages has existed for years.

From Salon

Will patriotic flags become a more permanent fixture of residential streets in Britain, like in many US neighbourhoods where they are commonplace?

From BBC

Related Words

• customary 
• mundane 
• normal 
• obvious 
• prevalent 
• typical