inanities

Inanity, with the plural inanities, refers to the quality or state of being inane: lacking sense, meaning, or significance. Inanities describe statements, actions, or objects that are frivolous, trivial, or vacuous, and are often perceived as devoid of substantive value. The term can point to a single remark or to a pattern of behavior or content that repeatedly fails to meet ordinary standards of relevance or seriousness.

The word derives from Latin inanitas, from inanis meaning empty or void. In English, inane is an adjective for things that are silly or pointless; inanity is the corresponding noun. The plural inanities is commonly used in criticism, journalism, and literary analysis to label banalities, platitudes, or obviously silly talk.

In practice, inanities appear in everyday conversation, media commentary, and online discourse when remarks are perceived as gratuitous, repetitive, or nonsensical. Critics may point to examples such as media punditry, talk show chatter, or social media posts as illustrating inanities, though the judgment is often subjective and evaluative.

Related terms include banality, vacuity, and silliness.