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Definition of Commonplace
1. Adjective. Completely ordinary and unremarkable. "Commonplace everyday activities"
2. Noun. A trite or obvious remark.
Generic synonyms: Comment, Input, Remark, Truism
Derivative terms: Banal, Platitudinous
3. Adjective. Not challenging; dull and lacking excitement. "An unglamorous job greasing engines"
Similar to: Unexciting
Derivative terms: Prosaicness, Prose
4. Adjective. Repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse. "The trite metaphor `hard as nails'"
Similar to: Unoriginal
Derivative terms: Banality, Triteness
Definition of Commonplace
1. a. Common; ordinary; trite; as, a commonplace person, or observation.
2. n. An idea or expression wanting originality or interest; a trite or customary remark; a platitude.
3. v. t. To enter in a commonplace book, or to reduce to general heads.
4. v. i. To utter commonplaces; to indulge in platitudes.
Definition of Commonplace
1. Adjective. ordinary; having no remarkable features ¹
2. Noun. A platitude or cliché. ¹
3. Noun. Something that is ordinary. ¹
4. Verb. To make a commonplace book. ¹
¹ Source: wiktionary.com
Definition of Commonplace
1. [n -S]
Lexicographical Neighbors of Commonplace
Literary usage of Commonplace
Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:
1. Macmillan's Magazine by David Masson, George Grove, John Morley, Mowbray Morris (1885)
"I think I have heard him called by some of our juniors ‘commonplace.' Upon my
word, I think it a compliment. I think it shows a certain generality of ..."
2. Allen's Synonyms and Antonyms by Frederic Sturges Allen (1920)
"commonplace, a. everyday, common, ordinary, hackneyed, threadbare, stale, tame,
trite, ... In grammar: epicene (a loose and improper use). commonplace, n. ..."
3. The Works of George Berkeley by George Berkeley (1871)
"1 This Metaphysical commonplace Book, as I have called it, is a small quarto volume,
... The commonplace Book contains many references to Locke's Essay, ..."
4. Gems of Chinese Literature by Herbert Allen Giles (1884)
"SHU-YEH'S* verses are at once vigorous and purely beautiful, without a vestige
of commonplace about them. Every student of the poetic art should know them ..."
5. Critical Miscellanies by John Morley (1908)
"We may perhaps add to Addison's definition, that the great secret of the best
kind of popularity is always the noble or imaginative handling of commonplace. ..."
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