commonplace
/ˈkɒmənpleɪs/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkɑːmənpleɪs/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈkä-mən-ˌplās/ (ame, mw) · /ˈkɒm.ən.pleɪs/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkɑː.mən.pleɪs/ (ame, ipa)
commonplace — adjective
- commonplacepositive
- more commonplacecomparative
- most commonplacesuperlative
1. so widely seen, heard, or experienced that people no longer find it surprising,
so widely seen, heard, or experienced that people no longer find it surprising, interesting, or worth special attention
Smartphones have become so commonplace that even young children carry them to school.
collocation: become commonplace
Car theft in this neighbourhood is commonplace, so residents now park inside locked garages.
The nurse told us that minor side effects from the vaccine are quite commonplace.
Ravi found it strange that standing in line for an hour was considered commonplace there.
For the Watanabe family, eating dinner at nine in the evening was completely commonplace.
- ordinary
less formal; describes something average or typical without the 'so frequent it is unremarkable' emphasis
- unremarkable
focuses on the lack of anything special or noteworthy
- run-of-the-mill
informal; suggests something is average and uninspiring
- widespread
emphasises geographical or demographic range rather than frequency
- rare
the direct opposite in terms of frequency
- unusual
describes something that stands out because it is not common
- exceptional
something so good or special that it is far from ordinary
用法筆記
Frequently paired with 'become', 'seem', or 'be' to describe broad social patterns or widespread phenomena. More common in formal or written English than in casual conversation.
常見錯誤
commonplace — noun
- commonplacesingular
- commonplacesplural
1. a statement or idea that has been repeated so many times that it feels boring an
a statement or idea that has been repeated so many times that it feels boring and loses its original impact or meaning
Politicians often rely on tired commonplaces like 'we need change' without explaining the details.
collocation: rely on commonplaces
Theo was tired of hearing the same commonplaces at every wedding ceremony he attended.
collocation: the same commonplaces
The director's speech was full of empty commonplaces that failed to impress the audience.
What began as a sincere observation became a dull commonplace after the manager said it at every team meeting.
- original remark
a statement that is fresh and not heard before
- insight
a deep or clever observation that adds value
用法筆記
Often used in the plural form 'commonplaces'. More formal than 'cliché' and carries a slightly less negative tone — 'commonplace' suggests overuse rather than lack of originality.