Meaning & use
prosaic
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Meanings
adjectivecomparableformaldisapproving
Ordinary and plain, lacking the imagination, beauty or excitement that something more inspired would have.
Grammar: Can come before or after a noun: a prosaic reply, the answer was prosaic.
Patterns
- a prosaic explanation
- prosaic details
The truth turned out to be far more prosaic than the rumor.
He gave a prosaic reason for being late: the bus broke down.
Her prosaic style made the story hard to enjoy.
adjectivecomparableliteraryformal
Written in or relating to prose, as opposed to poetry; plain in expression.
Grammar: A more literal sense used in literary criticism.
Patterns
- prosaic language
- a prosaic account
The poem slid into prosaic language in its final lines.
The author chose a prosaic account of events over a lyrical one.
Word forms
| comparative | more prosaic |
|---|---|
| superlative | most prosaic |
Common combinations
- prosaic explanation
- There is a prosaic explanation for the noise.
- prosaic reality
- The prosaic reality of office work disappointed him.
- prosaic details
- The report was full of prosaic details about budgets.
- rather prosaic
- The ceremony was rather prosaic.
- prosaic task
- Filing papers is a prosaic task, but someone has to do it.
Synonyms and how they differ
- mundane
- Mundane means everyday and ordinary, but prosaic adds a lack of imagination or poetry.
- humdrum
- Humdrum describes dull routine, whereas prosaic can describe plain expression.
- matter-of-fact
- Matter-of-fact describes a calm, practical manner, which can be positive, while prosaic is usually critical.
- banal
- Banal means so ordinary and overused that it is boring, and it is stronger than prosaic.
Opposites
Word family
- prosaically adverb
- in a plain, unimaginative way
- prosaicness noun
- the quality of being plain and dull
- prose noun
- ordinary written or spoken language, not verse
- prosaist noun
- a writer of prose, or a dull person
Commonly confused: prosaic or prosaic vs. prosy? prosaic or prosaic vs. poetic?
prosaic vs prosaic vs. prosy
Prosy means tediously long-winded and dull in speech or writing. Prosaic means plain and ordinary.
prosaic vs prosaic vs. poetic
Poetic means expressive and beautiful, so it is the opposite of prosaic.
Practice
The detective expected a dramatic motive, but the real reason was prosaic. What was the reason like?
Choose one answer.
Prosaic means plain and ordinary, which contrasts with the dramatic motive expected. The other options describe emotional or strange reasons.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “prosaic”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.