commonplace

1 of 2

adjective

com·​mon·​place ˈkä-mən-ˌplās 

: commonly found or seen : ordinary, unremarkable

a commonplace occurrence

the large mergers that had become commonplace

Computers are commonplace in classrooms.

commonplaceness noun

commonplace

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: an obvious or trite comment : truism

It is a commonplace that you don't know what you've got till it's gone.

b

: something commonly found

A smartphone is a commonplace.

2

archaic : a striking passage entered in a commonplace book

Synonyms of commonplace

Adjective

• normal
• ordinary
• usual
• typical
• common
• average

Noun

• cliché
• truism
• banality
• trope
• platitude
• bromide

Examples of commonplace in a Sentence

Adjective

Drug use has become commonplace at rock concerts.

He photographed commonplace objects like lamps and bowls.

Noun

It is a commonplace that we only use a small part of our brain's capacity.

We now accept cell phones and laptop computers as commonplaces of everyday life.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Contrary to rumors of mass protests, the gathering of citizens (a commonplace sight at crucial legislative periods), was unobtrusive and orderly. —Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 13 Jan. 2026

Bodyboarders and surfers haven’t historically gotten along, especially in the ’80s, when conflicts in the water were commonplace. —Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 13 Jan. 2026

Noun

The 1945 War Brides Act largely diverged from these previous measures, helping to dismantle the Asian exclusion made commonplace in the 19th and early 20th centuries. —Anna Storti, The Conversation, 8 Jan. 2026

In the last year, after all, heartrending images like these have become part of the ordinary, the everyday, the commonplace. —Leonard Pitts Jr, Miami Herald, 1 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Adjective

translation of Latin locus communis widely applicable argument, translation of Greek koinos topos

First Known Use

Adjective

1616, in the meaning defined above

Noun

circa 1531, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing commonplace

• commonplace book

Rhymes for commonplace

• aerospace
• anatase
• anyplace
• cyberspace
• database
• diabase
• diastase
• dnase
• elastase
• fireplace
• hyperspace
• interface

Kids Definition

commonplace

1 of 2 noun

com·​mon·​place ˈkäm-ən-ˌplās 

: something that is often seen, heard, or met with

commonplace

2 of 2 adjective

: very common or ordinary