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

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 notes

In plain EnglishThe state of being boringly ordinary or unoriginal.

Common pairings

the banality of evil sheer banality

Word forms

banalities plural

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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.

Origin: French

Synonyms

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commonplace bromide cliche platitude

Related words

common normal everyday boring surprising exceptional pedestrian commonplace

Rhymes for banality

city pity deity acuity parity entity brevity opacity paucity ability quality reality

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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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common normal everyday boring surprising exceptional pedestrian commonplace