English Meaning & Definitions
Lacking distinction or originality; ordinary, usual, or unremarkable.
- “In the modern digital age, smartphones have become commonplace.”
- “His speech was filled with commonplace remarks that failed to inspire the audience.”
A usual, ordinary, or common thing; a cliché or trite remark.
- “The idea that hard work always leads to success is a well-worn commonplace.”
- “What was once considered a luxury has now become an everyday commonplace.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
English Antonyms & Opposites
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “commonplace”.
Derived from the Latin 'locus communis', which is a translation of the Greek 'koinos topos', meaning a general theme or argument of wide application. In the 16th century, it referred to a passage of literature recorded in a 'commonplace book' for future reference. Over time, the meaning shifted from a shared, useful piece of wisdom to something that is ordinary, trite, or lacking in originality.
Think of a 'common place' like a public park—it is a location where everyone goes, making it completely ordinary and unoriginal.
Frequently Asked Questions About “commonplace”
1. What is the meaning of “commonplace” in English?
In English, commonplace (adjective) is defined as: “Lacking distinction or originality; ordinary, usual, or unremarkable.”.
2. How do you use “commonplace” in a sentence?
“In the modern digital age, smartphones have become commonplace.”
3. What are English synonyms of “commonplace”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “commonplace”?
Derived from the Latin 'locus communis', which is a translation of the Greek 'koinos topos', meaning a general theme or argument of wide application. In the 16th century, it referred to a passage of literature recorded in a 'commonplace book' for future reference. Over time, the meaning shifted from a shared, useful piece of wisdom to something that is ordinary, trite, or lacking in originality.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
View all English words →The base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), equal to the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium-133 atom.
A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.
A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.