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platitude

American  
[plat-i-tood, -tyood] / ˈplæt ɪˌtud, -ˌtyud /

noun

  1. a flat, dull, or trite remark, especially one uttered as if it were fresh or profound.

    Synonyms:
    truism, cliché

  2. the quality or state of being flat, dull, or trite.

    the platitude of most political oratory.
platitude British  
/ ˈplætɪˌtjuːd /

noun

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

  2. staleness or insipidity of thought or language; triteness

"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

Other Word Forms

  • platitudinous adjective

Etymology

Origin of platitude

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

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.

As the platitude goes, the cost of community is convenience.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 19, 2026

Its wheels’ gold rims, capped with smiley faces, are emblazoned with the platitude “Where Dreams Are Made,” while the whole thing is ornamented with piped-icing filigree.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 17, 2025

Sabalenka said in her Centre Court interview that she thought Raducanu would be back in the top 10 soon - I don't think that was simply a platitude to get the crowd on her side.

From BBC • Jul. 9, 2025

With that, the author lets him skate, onto the next platitude.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 3, 2024

Pearl waited for a parental platitude to follow: Life isn’t fair, or Fair doesn’t always mean right.

From "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng

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.