proverbial

adjective

pro·​ver·​bi·​al prə-ˈvər-bē-əl 

1

: of, relating to, or resembling a proverb

2

: that has become a proverb or byword : commonly spoken of

the proverbial smoking gun

proverbially

prə-ˈvər-bē-ə-lē 

adverb

Examples of proverbial in a Sentence

Insanity roamed through her large midwestern tribe, cloistered in proverbial dark closets in gabled houses in areas of the country where no one else lived for miles and miles … —Lynne Tillman, Motion Sickness, 1991

I keep running across people who speak fondly about what they imagine to be the comforts of autocracy, who long for the assurances of the proverbial man on the white horse likely to do something hard and puritanical about the moral relativism that has made a mess of the cities, the schools, and prime-time television. —Lewis H. Lapham, Harper's, November 1990

Recent Examples on the Web

At the same time, Christian broadcasters multiplied like proverbial loaves and fishes, with worldwide viewership growing tenfold between 1970 and 1975—from 10 to 110 million people. — Literary Hub, 24 July 2026

What began as a flurry of rumors about his next destination has now congealed into a protracted waiting game, one that has NBA teams, fans and even the league office looking at their proverbial watches. — Joe Vardon, New York Times, 23 July 2026

The Farnborough Airshow is gigantic, covering the equivalent of 78 football pitches, and those five exhibit halls were just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. — David Szondy july 23, New Atlas, 23 July 2026

And worse, relegated to the proverbial dungeon or more accurately, the back of a bedside table drawer. — Tiana Randall, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

see proverb entry 1

First Known Use

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for proverbial

• adverbial

Kids Definition

proverbial

adjective

pro·​ver·​bi·​al prə-ˈvər-bē-əl 

1

: of, relating to, or resembling a proverb

proverbial wisdom

2

: commonly spoken of

the proverbial beginner's luck

proverbially

-bē-ə-lē 

adverb