pleasantly gentle or agreeable.
a bland, affable manner.
soothing or balmy, as air.
a bland southern breeze.
nonirritating, as food or medicines.
a bland diet.
not highly flavored; mild; tasteless.
a bland sauce.
lacking in special interest, liveliness, individuality, etc.; insipid; dull.
a bland young man; a bland situation comedy.
unemotional, indifferent, or casual.
his bland acknowledgment of guilt.
devoid of any distinctive or stimulating characteristics; uninteresting; dull
bland food
gentle and agreeable; suave
(of the weather) mild and soothing
unemotional or unmoved
a bland account of atrocities
First recorded in 1590–1600, bland is from the Latin word blandus of a smooth tongue, pleasant, soothing
When you have a nasty cold and you’re very congested, food can taste unappealingly bland. That means dull, flavorless, or just plain “blah.” Bland comes to us from the Latin word blandus, meaning “mild, smooth, flattering, alluring.” Funny, because today you wouldn't say there's anything "alluring" about something bland. People still use bland to mean pleasant and tranquil, but it more often has a negative connotation. Use it to describe plain old oatmeal before you’ve added brown sugar and berries to it, or to depict the forgettable, uninteresting personality of the lunch lady who served it to you.
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Los Angeles Police Department Capt. Mike Bland said he could not confirm where the officer was hit, but the officer is expected to be okay.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026
Sunday at an apartment in the 8000 block of Owensmouth Avenue, according to Los Angeles Police Capt. Mike Bland.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 8, 2026
Veteran Englishman Richard Bland cashed in on the romance of his one DP World Tour victory, the 2021 British Masters, which effectively earned him an invitation to play LIV tournaments.
From BBC • Apr. 30, 2026
Cameron Smith and Sergio Garcia each received $131,625 for a share of 40th place and Richard Bland pocketed $126,000 for coming 46th out of 57.
From BBC • Apr. 20, 2026
Rosa Parks and Sandra Bland talk with each other under southern trees.
From "Piecing Me Together" by Renée Watson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
