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Meaning & use

banality

noun·Advancedformaldisapproving

Last updated

UK/bəˈnælɪti/
US/bəˈnælɪti/
Usage warning: this word is disapproving. It shows a negative opinion, so take care with who and what you use it about.

Meanings

  1. noununcountableformaldisapproving

    The quality of being so ordinary and overused that it is dull and shows no original thought.

    Grammar: Used without a: the banality of the plot.

    Patterns

    • the banality of something

    Critics complained about the banality of the dialogue.

    The banality of the speech put half the audience to sleep.

    She was tired of the banality of small talk.

  2. nouncountableformaldisapproving

    A remark or idea that is dull and has been said many times before.

    Grammar: Usually plural: they exchanged banalities.

    Patterns

    • utter banalities
    • a banality about something

    The card was full of banalities about friendship.

    He answered every question with the same banality.

    They traded polite banalities about the weather.

Word forms

pluralbanalities

Common combinations

the banality of evil
The book explores the banality of evil.
sheer banality
The film failed through sheer banality.
everyday banality
The poem found beauty in everyday banality.
utter banalities
The host uttered banalities all evening.
descend into banality
The series descended into banality.

Synonyms and how they differ

cliché
Cliché names a specific worn-out phrase or idea, while banality is the general dullness.
triteness
Triteness is almost the same, but is rarer and always about overuse.
platitude
A platitude is a dull remark offered as wisdom, while banality can describe anything dull.
mediocrity
Mediocrity means being merely average in quality, not necessarily overused.

Opposites

originalityfreshness

Word family

banal adjective
dull and unoriginal
banally adverb
in a dull, unoriginal way
banalize verb
to make something dull or ordinary

Commonly confused: banality or banner? banality or bonhomie?

banality vs banner

Banner is a flag or sign; it only shares the start.

banality vs bonhomie

Bonhomie is friendly good humor, which is the opposite spirit of dull banality.

Practice

The reviewer called the novel's dialogue a collection of ___.

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