Finesentence mobile logo
Sign in Login / Register

Banality: meaning, definitions and examples

😒
Add to dictionary

banality

 

[ bəˈnælɪti ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

in everyday life

The quality or state of being banal, or devoid of freshness or originality; a commonplace or trite statement, idea, or occurrence.

Synonyms

cliché, ordinariness, platitude, triteness.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

arrow down
Word Description / Examples
banality

Used to describe something that is boring or lacking in originality because it is very common or obvious.

  • The speech was filled with banalities that failed to inspire anyone
cliché

Best used when talking about a phrase or idea that is overused and shows a lack of original thought.

  • Her story is just one cliché after another about finding true love
platitude

Often describes a statement that is intended to be thoughtful or meaningful but is actually dull or superficial. It generally has a slightly negative connotation.

  • The politician's speech was filled with platitudes about unity and progress
triteness

Used to critique something as being overly familiar and no longer interesting or effective. It has a negative connotation.

  • The author's latest novel was criticized for its triteness, offering nothing new to readers
ordinariness

Refers to the quality of being average, mundane, or not special. It is neutral and often used to describe everyday life.

  • Despite her glamour on stage, in real life she was known for her ordinariness

Examples of usage

  • It was a banality to say that the sun rises in the East.
  • The book was criticized for its banality and lack of unique insights.
  • The banality of the small talk at the party was unbearable.
  • The film was filled with clichés and banalities.
  • His speech was full of banalities and lacked any real substance.

Translations

Translations of the word "banality" in other languages:

🇵🇹 banalidade

🇮🇳 साधारणता

🇩🇪 Banalität

🇮🇩 biasa

🇺🇦 банальність

🇵🇱 banalność

🇯🇵 平凡

🇫🇷 banalité

🇪🇸 banalidad

🇹🇷 banalite

🇰🇷 평범함

🇸🇦 تفاهة

🇨🇿 banalita

🇸🇰 banalita

🇨🇳 平凡

🇸🇮 banalnost

🇮🇸 hversdagsleiki

🇰🇿 жайшылық

🇬🇪 ბანალურობა

🇦🇿 banallıq

🇲🇽 banalidad

Etymology

The word 'banality' originated from the French word 'banalité', which in turn comes from the Latin word 'banalis' meaning 'belonging to a man, common, ordinary'. The term gained prominence in the 20th century with the rise of existentialism, particularly through the works of Jean-Paul Sartre who used it to describe the emptiness and lack of originality in modern life.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #28,690, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.