banality

American  

[buh-nal-i-tee, bey-] / bəˈnæl ɪ ti, beɪ- /

noun

plural

banalities

1. the condition or quality of being banal, or devoid of freshness or originality.

   the banality of everyday life.

2. an instance of this.

   We sat around the dinner table exchanging banalities.

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Etymology

Origin of banality

First recorded in 1815–25; from French banalité, equivalent to banal ( def. ) + -ity ( def. )

Example Sentences

And hence misfired plays like this one, in which collaboration among gifted artists results only in a work of logorrheic banality.

From The Wall Street Journal

It is interesting that Mr. Vance’s banalities always sound hostile as opposed to merely boring.

From The Wall Street Journal

“What interests me are everyman aspects of him. The banality of his evil and the way that evil actions seem to always rise out of fear and insecurity.”

From Los Angeles Times

The real author describes it as a combination of plagiarism and banality.

From BBC

The finish line isn’t moral resolution, but the banality of the cash register: a product governed where it matters most, at the point of sale.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• platitude