prosaic

Sometimes pro·sa·i·cal

[proh-zey-ik]

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.

prosaic

/ prəʊˈzeɪɪk /

adjective

1. lacking imagination

2. having the characteristics of prose

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of prosaic¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of prosaic¹

C16: from Late Latin prōsaicus, from Latin prōsa _prose

Example Sentences

Relational database software may sound prosaic, but in fact it’s the central nervous system of any digital business, which now means every business—a hugely powerful tailwind for Oracle.

Read more on Barron's

It was, he said, nice to be dealing with prosaic concerns again.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

There are hundreds of such passages throughout this 400-page book, which elevates the most prosaic of details, into hymn.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

There are other, more prosaic, means of retaliation.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Are they a shield or for something more prosaic, short-sightedness perhaps?

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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