noun
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a trite, dull, or obvious remark or statement; a commonplace
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staleness or insipidity of thought or language; triteness
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of platitude
First recorded in 1805–15; from French: literally, “flatness,” equivalent to plat “flat” ( cf. plate 1) + -itude -tude ( def. )
Explanation
If an executive gives a speech that begins, "This business is all about survival of the fittest. You need to burn the midnight oil and take one for the team," his employees might get sick of listening to these meaningless clichés and tell him to cut the platitudes. The English language contains many old, worn-out clichés, or platitudes. Phrases like "ants in your pants" and "as American as apple pie" are so overused that they've almost lost their meaning. People rely on these tired old remarks when they can't think of anything original to say. Be warned: if you throw too many platitudes into your conversations, people are eventually going to get tired of listening to you.
Vocabulary lists containing platitude
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
If you've been following Conor's various impressions over the last year or so, you'll immediately recognize these two caricatures: The obliviously arrogant Ian Poulter and Tiger "The Sentient Platitude" Woods.
From Golf Digest • May 15, 2019
Not for nothing is he known to the press corps as David Platitude.
From The Guardian • Mar. 17, 2013
Therefore the man is lost to her—be he Platitude or Pleasure.
From The Inner Sisterhood A Social Study in High Colors by Sherley, George Douglass
For the old Anarchic Brute-gods it may be well enough, but it is a Platitude which Men should be above countenancing by their presence in it.
From Past and Present by Carlyle, Thomas
"Old Platitude always thinks that the world is coming to an end," said Currie.
From The American Senator by Trollope, Anthony
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.
