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View synonyms for

banal

[ buh-nal, -nahl, beyn-l ]

adjective

  1. devoid of freshness or originality; hackneyed; trite:

    a banal and sophomoric treatment of courage on the frontier.



banal

/ bəˈnælɪtɪ; bəˈnɑːl /

adjective

  1. lacking force or originality; trite; commonplace
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • banality, noun
  • ˈԲ, adverb
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Other Word Forms

  • ·Բ··ٲ [b, uh, -, nal, -i-tee, bey-], noun
  • ·Բl adverb
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Word History and Origins

Origin of banal1

First recorded in 1745–55; from French, Old French: “pertaining to a ban”; equivalent to ban 2 + -al 1
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Word History and Origins

Origin of banal1

C18: from Old French: relating to compulsory feudal service, hence common to all, commonplace; from ban ban ²
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Synonym Study

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The prayers and programs mostly focused on banal and empty affirmations about being grateful, relieving stress, and sleeping better.

From

To say that none of this will end well is beyond banal.

From

Earlier this year, Drew Hancock’s "Companion" drew similarly banal conclusions about how men in power interact in relation to technology.

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Theories range from the banal - a lack of will to investigate by an under-resourced and under-paid police force - to the sinister.

From

That idea is certainly more exciting than the banal truth: pasteurization was developed to prevent foodborne illness.

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banakbanality