corny
1 Americanadjective
adjective
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trite or banal
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sentimental or mawkish
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abounding in corn
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of corny1
First recorded in 1350–1400; 1930–35 corny 1 for def. 2; Middle English; corn 1 + -y 1
Origin of corny2
Explanation
If your Uncle Marvin has a habit of telling corny jokes, they probably make you groan every single time. Corny describes something that's either worn out and tiresome or overly sentimental — and sometimes both. It can be hard to talk about something emotional without becoming corny. Try describing love at first sight without becoming trite or stickily sentimental and you'll know first-hand how easily you can find yourself sounding corny. For years corny simply meant "full of corn," or "tasting of malt." Sometime in the 1930s it became popular slang meaning "appealing to country folk," who were also described at the time as corn-fed, because of their supposed connection to farms.
Vocabulary lists containing corny
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.
“Margo’s Got Money Problems” can be terribly sentimental, almost corny — the climax is pure Hollywood — but undeniably effective.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 2026
And as corny as that may seem, I implore you: If you have even one microscopic iota of curiosity, see this film.
From Salon • Mar. 21, 2026
But, while she may no longer feel able to wear the T-shirt which inspired her "corny" spur-of-the-moment quote, it has since become clear that the impact was worth the sacrifice.
From BBC • Mar. 19, 2026
“Not to get corny, but I’m the dad here and I’ve got to say just this one thing,” he adds, a growing swell of emotion in his voice.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 18, 2026
“You want a corn muffin to go with that cocoa? ’Cause that was kinda corny, Fab.”
From "American Street" by Ibi Zoboi
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.
