noun
banality
buh-NA-lih-tee
Banality (noun) means the quality of being dull, unoriginal, and overly familiar. Example: “The banality of the small talk made the meeting drag on.”
noun
1
The quality of being dull, unoriginal, and overly familiar.
"The banality of the small talk made the meeting drag on."
"Critics pointed to the banality of the film's plot."
How to use banality
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe state of being boringly ordinary or unoriginal.
Common pairings
the banality of evil
sheer banality
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Word forms
- Plural
- banalities
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The _____ of the small talk made the meeting drag on.
Etymology
From French banalité, built from banal plus the noun ending -ity.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for banality
See all rhymes for banality →Frequently asked questions
What does “banality” mean?
The word “banality” means the quality of being dull, unoriginal, and overly familiar. In plain terms, the state of being boringly ordinary or unoriginal.
How do you pronounce “banality”?
“Banality” is pronounced buh-NA-lih-tee (/bəˈnælɪti/ in IPA).
How do you use “banality” in a sentence?
Here is “banality” used in a sentence: “The banality of the small talk made the meeting drag on.”
What part of speech is “banality”?
“Banality” is a noun.
Where does the word “banality” come from?
The word “banality” comes from French. From French banalité, built from banal plus the noun ending -ity.
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