prosaic

Sometimes pro·sa·i·cal

[proh-zey-ik]

adjective

1. commonplace or dull; matter-of-fact or unimaginative.

   a prosaic mind.

   Synonyms: uninteresting, tiresome, tedious, humdrum, vapid, everyday, ordinary

2. of or having the character or form of prose, the ordinary form of spoken or written language, rather than of poetry.

prosaic

/ prəʊˈzeɪɪk /

adjective

1. lacking imagination

2. having the characteristics of prose

Other Word Forms

• prosaically adverb
• prosaicness noun
• nonprosaic adjective
• nonprosaicness noun
• nonprosaically adverb
• unprosaic adjective
• unprosaicness noun
• unprosaical adjective
• unprosaically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of prosaic¹

First recorded in 1650–60, prosaic is from the Late Latin word prōsaicus. See prose, -ic

Word History and Origins

Origin of prosaic¹

C16: from Late Latin prōsaicus, from Latin prōsa _prose

Example Sentences

Stiller’s approach is musical; his assembly of clips and photos is musical — poetic, not prosaic.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

While the work of their Attic cousins is celebrated for being high-minded and idealistic—all those ripped bodies, gods and goddesses—theirs, with its focus on everyday individuals and events, can be seen as prosaic.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Relational database software may sound prosaic, but in fact it’s the central nervous system of any digital business, which now means every business—a hugely powerful tailwind for Oracle.

Read more on Barron's

It was, he said, nice to be dealing with prosaic concerns again.

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There are hundreds of such passages throughout this 400-page book, which elevates the most prosaic of details, into hymn.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• banal 
• drab 
• everyday 
• humdrum 
• mundane 
• workaday