banality

noun

ba·​nal·​i·​ty bə-ˈna-lə-tē  bā- 

 also  ba-

plural banalities

1

: something that lacks originality, freshness, or novelty : something banal : commonplace

2

: the quality or state of lacking new or interesting qualities : the quality or state of being banal

Synonyms

• bromide
• chestnut
• cliché
• cliche
• commonplace
• groaner
• homily
• platitude
• shibboleth
• trope
• truism

Examples of banality in a Sentence

The trip offers an escape from the banalities of daily life.

We exchanged banalities about the weather.

The writing never rose above banality.

Recent Examples on the Web

But that was before the psychological condition of Trump Derangement Syndrome reduced many gifted performers to banality. —Armond White, National Review, 18 Sep. 2024

Buxton imbues the film with tension, and as the likable Foster takes John into increasingly obsessive behavior, the film finds more horror movie elements in the banality of the normal. —Carole Horst, Variety, 6 Sep. 2024

Manic and magical in a way that makes the banality of its final moments all the more crushing to witness, the episode crystallizes the spirit of perseverance that runs through Suleiman’s entire body of work, its every sly joke and slice of joy an act of rebellion unto itself. —Indiewire Staff, IndieWire, 12 Aug. 2024

There’s a lot of banality in being a coach; a lot of clapping hands, a lot of halftime speeches that blend together. —Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French banalité, from banal "available for general use, commonplace, banal" + -ité -ity

Note: The modern French word is probably an eighteenth-century coinage, and not continuous with Middle French bannalité "a feudal lord's right to extract usage fees, area under such a jurisdiction."

First Known Use

1821, in the meaning defined at sense 1