Banal Meaning
/bəˈnɑːl/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjCommon in a boring way, to the point of being predictable; containing nothing new or fresh.
adjRelating to a type of feudal jurisdiction or service.
Sentence Examples
I don't need your banal platitudes.
He was asking banal questions.
When it rains, you get wet. This is a banal truth.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
CEFR Practice Quiz
His speech was so ____ that half the audience fell asleep from boredom.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The speaker's comments were very ____ and did not offer anything new.
Word Origin & History
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.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"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."
— 2013, John Carney, Begin Again (motion picture), spoken by Dan (Mark Ruffalo):
"They arrived in 1732, and were distributed gratis to the more important banal mills."
— 1926, Thomas Guérin, Feudal Canada: The Story of the Seigniories of New France, page 72:
"French historians have viewed these policies as efforts to replace the banal authority inherited from the Carolingians […]"
— 1984, C. Warren Hollister, “War and Diplomacy in the Anglo-Norman world: the reign of Henry I”, in Anglo-Norman Studies VI: Proceedings of the Battle Conference, 1983, page 79:
"To what extent were banal lords accountable to a prince or a king for their unrestricted exercise of public authority?"
— 2002, Wim Blockmans, Peter Hoppenbrouwers, Introduction to Medieval Europe 300–1500, page 138:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
His speech was so ____ that half the audience fell asleep from boredom.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The speaker's comments were very ____ and did not offer anything new.