A loan translation of Latin locus communis (Greek koinos topos, 'common place'), meaning a general argument or rhetorical theme applicable to many situations. In the 16th century, a commonplace was a general heading or notable passage recorded in a notebook ('commonplace book'). By the 17th century the word had extended to mean any observation so familiar it had lost its force, giving rise to the modern adjective sense of 'ordinary, unremarkable'.
What does commonplace mean?
As an adjective, commonplace means ordinary and unremarkable, encountered so often as to be no longer interesting (e.g., 'laptops are now commonplace'). As a noun, it means a trite or obvious remark or idea (e.g., 'he spoke in commonplaces').
What is a commonplace book?
A commonplace book is a notebook in which readers recorded memorable passages, quotations, ideas, and arguments for future reference and reflection. The practice was popular among scholars and writers from the Renaissance through the 18th century.
What is the difference between commonplace and cliché?
Commonplace (adjective) describes something widely familiar and ordinary. Cliché specifically refers to an overused phrase or expression that has lost its impact. A commonplace thought may be expressed in fresh language; a cliché is tiredness baked into the specific phrasing.
Can commonplace be used as a noun?
Yes. As a countable noun, a commonplace is a trite or obvious observation: 'the speech was full of commonplaces'. In historical rhetoric, it referred to a standard argument or notable passage preserved in a commonplace book.
What is a synonym for commonplace?
As an adjective: mundane, ordinary, banal, unremarkable, humdrum. As a noun: platitude, cliché, truism, banality.