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platitude

[ plat-i-tood, -tyood ]
/ ˈplĂŠt ÉȘˌtud, -ˌtyud /
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See synonyms for: platitude / platitudes on Thesaurus.com

noun
a flat, dull, or trite remark, especially one uttered as if it were fresh or profound.
the quality or state of being flat, dull, or trite: the platitude of most political oratory.
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Origin of platitude

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

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH platitude

platitude , plaudit
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use platitude in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for platitude

platitude
/ (ˈplĂŠtÉȘˌtjuːd) /

noun
a trite, dull, or obvious remark or statement; a commonplace
staleness or insipidity of thought or language; triteness

Derived forms of platitude

platitudinous, adjective

Word Origin for platitude

C19: from French, literally: flatness, from plat flat
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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