ordinary
AW-dih-nuh-ree
Ordinary (adj) means Normal, usual, or unremarkable; not special or different from what is expected. Example: “It was just an ordinary Tuesday until the phone rang.”
adj
1
Normal, usual, or unremarkable; not special or different from what is expected.
"It was just an ordinary Tuesday until the phone rang."
"He led a fairly ordinary life before winning the lottery."
"Most of the customers were ordinary people just popping in for bread and milk."
2
Plain or unimpressive; lacking any special quality.
"The meal was pretty ordinary — nothing worth writing home about."
"The hotel room was ordinary, with plain white walls and a small bed."
"It was an ordinary film that nobody remembered a week later."
How to use ordinary
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNormal or unremarkable — the everyday, expected version of something.
Common mistake
Note the spelling has "ordin-" not "ordan-"; a common misspelling.
Common pairings
ordinary person
out of the ordinary
nothing ordinary about
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more ordinary
- Superlative
- most ordinary
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
It was just an _____ Tuesday until the phone rang.
Etymology
From Latin ōrdinārius, "regular, orderly," from ōrdō, "order."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for ordinary
See all rhymes for ordinary →Frequently asked questions
What does “ordinary” mean?
The word “ordinary” means normal, usual, or unremarkable; not special or different from what is expected. In plain terms, normal or unremarkable — the everyday, expected version of something.
How do you pronounce “ordinary”?
“Ordinary” is pronounced AW-dih-nuh-ree (/ˈɔɹdɪnɛɹi/ in IPA).
How do you use “ordinary” in a sentence?
Here is “ordinary” used in a sentence: “It was just an ordinary Tuesday until the phone rang.”
What part of speech is “ordinary”?
“Ordinary” is an adjective.
Where does the word “ordinary” come from?
The word “ordinary” comes from Latin. From Latin ōrdinārius, "regular, orderly," from ōrdō, "order.".
Is “ordinary” a common word?
“Ordinary” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “ordinary” have?
“Ordinary” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: normal, usual, or unremarkable; not special or different from what is expected.
What is the difference between ordinary and normal?
The two overlap heavily. Normal describes what fits the usual pattern or standard, the opposite of abnormal. Ordinary describes what is common and unremarkable, the opposite of special. Something can be perfectly normal yet feel ordinary because it is plain or everyday. In casual use, though, they are often swapped freely.
What is the opposite of ordinary?
The most direct opposite is extraordinary, meaning remarkable, exceptional, or far beyond the usual. Other opposites include special, unusual, and outstanding. Where ordinary suggests something plain and expected, these words point to whatever stands out or surprises us in a striking way.
Is ordinary a negative word?
Not really, though it can lean slightly that way. Ordinary is mostly neutral, simply meaning usual or everyday. In some contexts it implies dull or unimpressive, as in an ordinary meal, while in others it is reassuring, as in an ordinary day. Tone and situation decide how it lands.
What is an example of ordinary?
An ordinary morning might mean waking up, having breakfast, and heading to work with nothing unusual happening. An ordinary object could be a plain white mug or a standard pen. In each case the word marks something common and unremarkable, the sort of thing we barely notice because it meets our expectations.
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