prosaic
American
adjective
-
lacking imagination
-
having the characteristics of prose
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of prosaic
First recorded in 1650–60, prosaic is from the Late Latin word prōsaicus. See prose, -ic
Explanation
Prosaic means ordinary or dull. Most of us lead a prosaic everyday life, sometimes interrupted by some drama or crisis. This adjective is from Latin prosa, "prose," which is ordinary writing intended to communicate ideas and information. Prose is often contrasted with poetry, which usually has a more imaginative and original style.
Vocabulary lists containing prosaic
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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.
The animal, known officially by the more prosaic name Bear 89, was nicknamed Backpack by rangers who noted his habit of climbing on his mother's back when she swam across the river.
From Barron's ● Sep. 30, 2026
The actor stars in Paul Greengrass’s prosaic dramatization of the 1381 Peasants’ Revolt in England.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026
Meek, a 10-year-old Black girl, is grappling with her fears of nuclear Armageddon as more prosaic domestic concerns kick into high gear.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026
A coed Filipino version was made in 1975, and a prosaic Americanized take in 1990.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 4, 2026
La Chaumiere is not, however, a thatched cottage, but a prosaic, dowdy building like other Toronto buildings.
From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
