English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com

commonplace

6 synonyms and 0 antonyms for commonplace, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Adjective — Ordinary; lacking anything unusual or noteworthy.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

unremarkable run-of-the-mill cliché

How to use commonplace

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

a commonplace occurrence commonplace remark become commonplace

Etymology

A translation of the Latin phrase locus communis, itself borrowed from the Ancient Greek koinos topos, both meaning roughly "a shared point" used in classical rhetoric.

Full origin of commonplace →

Frequently asked questions

What does “commonplace” mean?

The word “commonplace” means ordinary; lacking anything unusual or noteworthy. In plain terms, something so ordinary it barely registers — either an everyday occurrence or a tired, overused phrase.

How do you pronounce “commonplace”?

“Commonplace” is pronounced KO-muhn-plays (/ˈkɑmənˌpleɪs/ in IPA).

How do you use “commonplace” in a sentence?

Here is “commonplace” used in a sentence: “Smartphones are so commonplace now that few people remember life without them.”

What part of speech is “commonplace”?

Depending on how it is used, “commonplace” can be an adjective and a noun.

Where does the word “commonplace” come from?

The word “commonplace” comes from Ancient Greek. A translation of the Latin phrase locus communis, itself borrowed from the Ancient Greek koinos topos, both meaning roughly "a shared point" used in classical rhetoric.

Is “commonplace” a common word?

“Commonplace” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “commonplace” have?

“Commonplace” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: ordinary; lacking anything unusual or noteworthy.

People also searched

Nearby words

← Back to the full definition of commonplace
Synonyms and antonyms from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.