cliché

American  

[klee-shey, kli-] / kliˈʃeɪ, klɪ- /

Or cliche

noun

clichés plural

1. a trite, stereotyped expression; a sentence or phrase, usually expressing a popular or common thought or idea, that has lost originality, ingenuity, and impact by long overuse, as sadder but wiser, or strong as an ox.

   Synonyms:

   commonplace, stereotype, bromide, platitude

2. (in art, literature, drama, etc.) a trite or hackneyed plot, character development, use of color, musical expression, etc.

3. anything that has become trite or commonplace through overuse.

4. British Printing.

   1. a stereotype or electrotype plate.

   2. a reproduction made in a like manner.

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adjective

1. trite; hackneyed; stereotyped; clichéd.

cliché British  

/ ˈkliːʃeɪ /

noun

1. a word or expression that has lost much of its force through overexposure, as for example the phrase

   it's got to get worse before it gets better

2. an idea, action, or habit that has become trite from overuse

3. printing a stereotype or electrotype plate

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cliché Cultural  

1. A much used expression that has lost its freshness and descriptive power. Some clichés are “I thank you from the bottom of my heart” and “It's only a drop in the bucket.”

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• clichéd
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• clichés
  plural

Etymology

Origin of cliché

First recorded in 1825–35; from French: “stereotype plate, stencil,” noun use of past participle of clicher “to make a stereotype plate,” said to be imitative of the sound of the metal pressed against the matrix

Explanation

If you've heard an expression a million times, chances are it's a cliche. Cliche, also spelled cliché, is a 19th century borrowed word from the French which refers to a saying or expression that has been so overused that it has become boring and unoriginal. Think about the expressions "easy as pie," or "don't play with fire," or "beauty is skin deep." These are all cliches. A plot or action sequence in a film or novel can also be called a cliche if it has become dull and predictable through overuse.

Example Sentences

Cliché, or in actuality a particularly nice chap?

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 14, 2022

But for National Cliché Day, let's celebrate how useful cliches can be, as a ready tool for conversation or a starting point for new phrases — which may well become future clichés.

From Salon • Nov. 15, 2021

Cliché as they are, they’re also powerful, and when we are under their spell, our perception is clouded.

From New York Times • Dec. 11, 2018

In the Cliché Zone, you can see every single twist and turn of the plot coming at you from 10 miles away.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 20, 2012

Cliché it may be, but the notion that no one is better suited to explain the dilemmas of contemporary life than the novelist persists.

From The Guardian • Jan. 15, 2011