Banal

Banal is an adjective that describes something lacking originality or freshness; it is commonplace, predictable, or trivial.

Etymology and usage: The word comes from French banal, Old French, originally related to feudal rights of a lord to require certain services or goods from a village; by the 19th century it acquired the figurative sense of something ordinary or unremarkable.

Today, banal is used to criticize ideas, art, speech, or behavior that fails to surprise or engage because it repeats familiar tropes or clichés. Related is the noun banality, and the well-known phrase the banality of evil, popularized by Hannah Arendt to describe the ordinary mindset behind heinous acts. While banal implies a negative judgment, its force depends on context; something banal in one situation may be harmless or consoling in another.

In culture and critique, writers and critics often contrast banality with originality, novelty, or subversion. Common synonyms include ordinary, mundane, pedestrian, and hackneyed; antonyms include original, innovative, and imaginative. Understanding banal helps explain why audiences seek fresh perspectives and why repetitive patterns can dull perception over time.