bromide

noun

bro·​mide ˈbrō-ˌmīd 

1

: a binary compound of bromine with another element or a radical including some (such as potassium bromide) used as sedatives

2

a

: a commonplace or tiresome person : bore

b

: a commonplace or hackneyed statement or notion

Did you know?

After bromine was discovered in 1827, chemists could not resist experimenting with the new element. It didn't take long before they found uses for its compounds, in particular potassium bromide, which was used as a sedative to treat everything from epilepsy to sleeplessness. By the 20th century, bromide was being used figuratively to apply to anything or anyone that might put one to sleep because of commonness or just plain dullness.

Synonyms

• banality
• chestnut
• cliché
• cliche
• commonplace
• groaner
• homily
• platitude
• shibboleth
• trope
• truism

Examples of bromide in a Sentence

His speech had nothing more to offer than the usual bromides about how everyone needs to work together.

a newspaper editorial offering the timeworn bromide that people should settle their differences peacefully

Recent Examples on the Web

At 11:15, Hancock was given a three-drug lethal injection: midazolam for sedation, vecuronium bromide to halt respiration and potassium chloride, which stops the heart. —Emma Goldberg Desiree Rios, New York Times, 21 Jan. 2024

The radical deliberation of Polanski’s framing, emphasizing Szpilman’s helplessness at every turn, disgraces the usual bromides about the triumph of the human spirit, as does Adrien Brody’s still-astonishing performance. —Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times, 14 Dec. 2023

Their gambit is that a provocative overdose of Indigeneity might rouse a jaded audience inundated with political bromides and consciousness-raising art. —Travis Diehl, New York Times, 19 Sep. 2023

That same report states that lithium chloride and bromide are salts. —Leia Larsen, The Salt Lake Tribune, 16 Aug. 2023

The bromides change but the brass tacks are the same. —Ahmed Al Omran, New York Times, 13 July 2023

During toasts at Thursday’s dinner, the two leaders offered bromides to friendship and cooperation. —Zoe Glasser, Washington Post, 23 June 2023

No actual candidate, and basically, sort of, bromides for policy prescriptions. —ABC News, 16 July 2023

Falling back on simple bromides about not apologizing for relations with autocrats and prioritizing interests over ideals fails to provide any useful guidance for assessing how democracy and security intersect. —Thomas Carothers, Foreign Affairs, 13 Apr. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1830, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing bromide

• ethidium bromide
• hydrogen bromide
• methyl bromide
• potassium bromide
• pyridostigmine bromide
• silver bromide

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Kids Definition

bromide

noun

bro·​mide ˈbrō-ˌmīd 

: any of various compounds of bromine with another element or a chemical group including some used as sedatives

Medical Definition

bromide

noun

bro·​mide ˈbrō-ˌmīd 

1

: a binary compound of bromine with another element or a radical including some (as potassium bromide) used as sedatives

2

: a dose of bromide taken usually as a sedative