banalities

Banalities refer to things, statements, or experiences that are dull, predictable, or lacking originality. In everyday use, something described as banal is ordinary to the point of being unremarkable, often because it relies on familiar routines, clichés, or commonplaces. The term can apply to objects, discourse, or events, and it is not limited to aesthetics; even meaningful topics can feel banal if treated in a routine or formulaic way.

Etymology and scope: The English adjective banal derives from the French banal, meaning “common” or “pertaining to a lord’s rights,” with the sense of something ordinary or prosaic that lacks originality. The noun banalities or banality is used to denote the quality of being banal, or the banal things themselves.

Usage in discourse: In language, calling something banal often carries a critical edge, suggesting a failure to surprise, challenge, or engage. Critics may distinguish banalities from clichés or from more profound statements; a banal remark might be technically true but emotionally flat, while a cliché is a worn-out phrase. Banalities also arise in discussions of daily life, media, and design, where mass-produced or routine elements are seen as lacking character.

Philosophical and cultural notes: The concept appears in cultural criticism and philosophy. Hannah Arendt’s phrase “the banality of evil” highlights how ordinary individuals can commit heinous acts through thoughtlessness and conformity rather than monstrous intent. Theodor Adorno and Max Horkheimer argue that the culture industry fosters banality by standardizing entertainment, promoting predictable tastes and commodified experiences.

Related terms include mundane, prosaic, pedestrian, cliché, and truism.