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Definition of banality

banality

/bəˈnæl.ə.ti/
ba · nal · i · ty
Adverb:banally
•
Plural:banalities
•
Adjective:banal
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banality Lexical Profile

banality Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The condition or quality of being unoriginal, dull, or commonplace; a lack of freshness or novelty.

Example

"The critic complained about the sheer banality of the movie's predictable plot."

2

A trite, predictable, or unoriginal remark, idea, or action (often used in the plural).

Example

"The two strangers exchanged polite banalities about the weather while waiting for the train."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for banality

• Nearby Words

ban
ban gioc falls
bana
banality
banana
banana pepper
banana squash

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the mid-19th century from French banalité, originally referring in feudal law to the compulsory shared use of a lord's mill, winepress, or oven by tenants, which later evolved to mean 'common to all' and eventually 'trite or unoriginal'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Banality. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/banality
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