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banal definition

ba·nal (bā′nəl; bə nal′, -näl′)

adjective

dull or stale as because of overuse; trite; hackneyed; commonplace

Etymology: Fr < OFr, designating objects (such as ovens or mills) belonging to feudal serfs (hence common, ordinary) < ban, decree, legal control: see ban

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

banal Synonyms

banal

modif.

dull, trite, hackneyed; see common 1, insipid. See syn. study at insipid.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

banal Usage Examples

Infinitive complement

  • dress: So, why does marketing provide the cloak that allows the ill-conceived and banal to dress up as brilliant insight?

Adjective complement with noun phrase

  • find: He doesn't like English poetry he finds English poetry very banal.

Modifies a noun

  • lyric: And the ability to invest sometimes banal lyrics with meaning and worth is another weapon essential weapon in a jazz singer's armory.

Modifying Another Word

  • utterly: What better way to fill the time than to write an utterly banal post about the weather?

Used with adjective complement

  • seem: But the danger is that we just make Conservatism seem banal.
banal usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

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MLA Style

"banal." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/banal>

APA Style

banal. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/banal

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