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commonplace Meaning & Definition

ˈkä-mən-ˌplās

What Does Commonplace Mean?

As an adjective, commonplace means commonly found or seen. As a noun, it means an obvious or trite comment.

Commonplace in Brief

Part of speechadjective, noun
Pronunciation/ˈkä-mən-ˌplās/
Syllables3
Synonymstrivial, banal and ordinary
Antonymsabnormal, exceptional and extraordinary
Pluralcommonplaces
Comparative / superlativemore commonplace, most commonplace
First known use1531

Commonplace Definition (Adjective)

  1. commonly found or seen : ordinary, unremarkable

    a commonplace occurrence / the large mergers that had become commonplace / Computers are commonplace in classrooms.

Commonplace as a Noun

  1. an obvious or trite comment : truism

    It is a commonplace that you don't know what you've got till it's gone.

  2. something commonly found

    A smartphone is a commonplace.

  3. a striking passage entered in a commonplace book

Synonyms of Commonplace

Commonplace synonyms and antonyms →

Antonyms of Commonplace

Commonplace in a Sentence

a commonplace occurrence

the large mergers that had become commonplace

Computers are commonplace in classrooms.

It is a commonplace that you don't know what you've got till it's gone.

A smartphone is a commonplace.

the large corporate mergers that have become commonplace

a thriller that uses the commonplace plot twist of the evil twin

the familiar summertime commonplace that It's not the heat, it's the humidity

a commonplace occurrence / the large mergers that had become commonplace / Computers are commonplace in classrooms.

Word Forms & Grammar

com·mon·place·ness noun

commonplace

commonplaceness

commonplacenesses

commonplaces

commonplace (comparative more commonplace, superlative most commonplace)

commonplace (countable and uncountable, plural commonplaces)

commonplace (third-person singular simple present commonplaces, present participle commonplacing, simple past and past participle commonplaced)

Words That Rhyme With Commonplace

Origin of Commonplace

Origin 1: see commonplace:2

Origin 2: translation of Latin locus communis widely applicable argument, translation of Greek koinos topos

Origin 3: A calque of Latin locus commūnis, referring to a generally applicable literary passage, itself a calque of Ancient Greek κοινὸς τόπος (koinòs tópos).

First Known Use

1616

circa 1531

How Do You Say Commonplace?

The standard pronunciation of commonplace is /ˈkä-mən-ˌplās/, spoken in 3 syllables, with the main stress on the first syllable (kä).

Common Questions About Commonplace

Is commonplace an adjective or a noun?

Commonplace is mainly used as an adjective, but it can also be used as a noun.

What is another word for commonplace?

Close synonyms of commonplace are trivial, banal and ordinary. See the full list of commonplace synonyms and antonyms.

What is the opposite of commonplace?

Antonyms of commonplace include abnormal, exceptional, extraordinary and odd.

What is the plural of commonplace?

The plural of commonplace is commonplaces.

What are the comparative and superlative forms of commonplace?

The comparative form is more commonplace and the superlative form is most commonplace.

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