banal
/bəˈnɑːl/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: 2.88 in modern English
7
Scrabble Score
5
Letters
2
Syllables
4
Unique Chars
Meaning
adj
Common in a boring way, to the point of being predictable; containing nothing new or fresh.
adj
Relating to a type of feudal jurisdiction or service.
Example Sentences
- "banal clichés"
- "banal conversation"
- "sound banal"
- "The movie’s dialogue was predictable and banal."
- "He made a few banal remarks about the weather."
- "One of the most banal scenes is suddenly invested with so much meaning! All these banalities - They're suddenly turned into these… these beautiful, effervescent pearls. From Music."
Etymology
Borrowed from French banal (“held in common, relating to feudal service, by extension commonplace”), from Old French banel, related to Medieval Latin bannālis (“subject to feudal authority”), from Latin bannus (“jurisdiction”), both ultimately from Proto-Germanic *bannaną (“to order, summon, forbid”). Equivalent to ban + -al. See also ban, abandon.
Origin
- Source language: French
Word Breakdown
- Root: *bʰeh₂-, banal, banel, bannālis, bannus, *bannaną
Inflected Forms
more banal (comparative)
banaler (comparative)
most banal (superlative)
banalest (superlative)
bannal (alternative, uncommon)