adj
prosaic
proh-ZAY-ihk
Prosaic (adj) means Plain, ordinary, or dull, lacking imagination or excitement. Example: “His speech was competent but prosaic, with none of the passion the crowd wanted.”
adj
1
Plain, ordinary, or dull, lacking imagination or excitement.
"His speech was competent but prosaic, with none of the passion the crowd wanted."
"She led a fairly prosaic life in a small suburban town."
How to use prosaic
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBoring or unremarkable, the opposite of poetic or exciting.
Common pairings
prosaic explanation
prosaic life
prosaic style
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more prosaic
- Superlative
- most prosaic
Fill the gap
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His speech was competent but _____, with none of the passion the crowd wanted.
Etymology
From Medieval Latin prosaicus ("in prose"), from Latin prosa ("prose"), ultimately from provorsus ("straightforward") — the sense shifted from "written in prose" to "plain and unpoetic" over time.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for prosaic
See all rhymes for prosaic →Frequently asked questions
What does “prosaic” mean?
The word “prosaic” means plain, ordinary, or dull, lacking imagination or excitement. In plain terms, boring or unremarkable, the opposite of poetic or exciting.
How do you pronounce “prosaic”?
“Prosaic” is pronounced proh-ZAY-ihk (/pɹoʊˈzeɪ.ɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “prosaic” in a sentence?
Here is “prosaic” used in a sentence: “His speech was competent but prosaic, with none of the passion the crowd wanted.”
What part of speech is “prosaic”?
“Prosaic” is an adjective.
Where does the word “prosaic” come from?
The word “prosaic” comes from Medieval Latin. From Medieval Latin prosaicus ("in prose"), from Latin prosa ("prose"), ultimately from provorsus ("straightforward") — the sense shifted from "written in prose" to "plain and unpoetic" over time.
