prosaic

American  

[proh-zey-ik] / proʊˈzeɪ ɪk /

Sometimes prosaical

adjective

1. commonplace or dull; matter-of-fact or unimaginative.

   a prosaic mind.

   Synonyms:

   uninteresting, tiresome, tedious, humdrum, vapid, everyday, ordinary

2. of or having the character or form of prose, the ordinary form of spoken or written language, rather than of poetry.

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prosaic British  

/ prəʊˈzeɪɪk /

adjective

1. lacking imagination

2. having the characteristics of prose

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Other Word Forms

• nonprosaic adjective
• nonprosaically adverb
• nonprosaicness noun
• prosaically adverb
• prosaicness noun
• unprosaic adjective
• unprosaical adjective
• unprosaically adverb
• unprosaicness noun

Etymology

Origin of prosaic

First recorded in 1650–60, prosaic is from the Late Latin word prōsaicus. See prose, -ic

Example Sentences

If we must have a fourth and fifth “Avatar,” Cameron should ditch these increasingly prosaic battlefield thrills for something really bold: Follow the kids to alien college for a mumblecore movie.

From Los Angeles Times

She said her group is focused on immediate, prosaic needs in the face of a challenging charitable environment.

From Los Angeles Times

Interlaced with the prosaic reflections are a series of fables involving inhabitants from the present and past.

From The Wall Street Journal

China is focused on something more prosaic: making better washing machines.

From The Wall Street Journal

After scoring 13 times in their previous three matches, this was a more prosaic England display, with Thomas Tuchel's decision to leave Bellingham out of his starting line-up capturing most of the attention.

From Barron's

Related Words

• banal
• drab
• everyday
• humdrum
• mundane
• workaday