prosaic
Americanadjective
-
lacking imagination
-
having the characteristics of prose
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of prosaic
First recorded in 1650–60, prosaic is from the Late Latin word prōsaicus. See prose, -ic
Explanation
Prosaic means ordinary or dull. Most of us lead a prosaic everyday life, sometimes interrupted by some drama or crisis. This adjective is from Latin prosa, "prose," which is ordinary writing intended to communicate ideas and information. Prose is often contrasted with poetry, which usually has a more imaginative and original style.
Vocabulary lists containing prosaic
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Dracula
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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.
Inside Jefferson’s house, no function was so prosaic or humble that it could not also be clarified by the light of reason.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026
“Even the most powerful technologies must pass through the prosaic discipline of cost curves, capacity constraints and marginal returns,” the report said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 12, 2026
A coed Filipino version was made in 1975, and a prosaic Americanized take in 1990.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 4, 2026
The implication is these disasters are being deliberately engineered, but Loader believes the causes have more prosaic roots, and have their origins in economics.
From BBC ● Mar. 13, 2026
In the country’s largest cities, otherwise prosaic services have been transformed into status symbols simply because of the price tag.
From "Class Matters" by The New York Times
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.
