platitude

[ plat-i-tood, -tyood ]
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noun
  1. a flat, dull, or trite remark, especially one uttered as if it were fresh or profound.

  2. the quality or state of being flat, dull, or trite: the platitude of most political oratory.

Origin of platitude

1
First recorded in 1805–15; from French: literally, “flatness,” equivalent to plat “flat” (cf. plate1) + -itude -tude

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Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use platitude in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for platitude

platitude

/ (ˈplætɪˌtjuːd) /


noun
  1. a trite, dull, or obvious remark or statement; a commonplace

  2. staleness or insipidity of thought or language; triteness

Origin of platitude

1
C19: from French, literally: flatness, from plat flat

Derived forms of platitude

  • platitudinous, adjective

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