mundane

adjective

mun·​dane ˌmən-ˈdān 

ˈmən-ˌdān

1

: characterized by the practical, temporary, and ordinary : commonplace

the mundane concerns of day-to-day life

… the National Gallery had paid too little heed to mundane questions of security.

—Edward Dolnick

2

: of, relating to, or characteristic of life on Earth rather than spiritual things

Humans continually petition the gods for mundane services, from winning sporting events to saving their jobs to curing illness to bringing world peace …

—Gregory S. Paul

mundanely adverb

mundaneness

ˌmən-ˈdān-nəs 

ˈmən-ˌdān-

noun

mundanity

ˌmən-ˈdā-nə-tē 

noun

Synonyms of mundane

• everyday

Choose the Right Synonym for mundane

earthly, worldly, mundane mean belonging to or characteristic of the earth.

earthly often implies a contrast with what is heavenly or spiritual.

abandoned earthly concerns and entered a convent

worldly and mundane both imply a relation to the immediate concerns and activities of human beings, worldly suggesting tangible personal gain or gratification

worldly goods

and mundane suggesting reference to the immediate and practical.

a mundane discussion of finances

Examples of mundane in a Sentence

On him, a mundane navy blazer looked like an Armani dinner jacket; around him, a dusky locker room became the chandeliered lobby of the Savoy. —Curry Kirkpatrick, ESPN, 19 Mar. 2001

How did our ancestors pass from the mundane activity of counting to the concept of 'number' in the abstract, devoid of any particular collection of objects to label? —John D. Barrow, Pi in the Sky, 1992

They decided on buttock tattoos, rather than the more mundane engagement ring, because a tattoo is permanent. You can always pawn a ring. —Mike Royko, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 1988

The day began with the mundane business of getting my white chiffon dress shortened … —Lady Bird Johnson, January 14, 1964, in A White House Diary,  1970

mundane chores, like washing dishes

They lead a pretty mundane life.

prayer and meditation helped her put her mundane worries aside

Recent Examples on the Web

There clearly continues to be something very evocative about the idea that all the mundane pop-culture ephemera from one’s youth hides something darker. — Alison Willmore, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026

This is especially true with the sun, moon, Mercury and Venus clashing with Uranus in Gemini, as plans could change unexpectedly, allowing less tolerance for mundane or repetitive tasks. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 28 Aug. 2026

Guests—defined loosely as anyone from a random hookup to Julia Fox to a surprisingly chill raccoon—drop by the house with regularity, creating a zippy blend of the mundane and the serendipitous. — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 27 Aug. 2026

The wishes might’ve seemed mundane, but several nonprofit leaders have said Breakaway checks helped their organizations stay open and even grow. — Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 27 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English mondeyne, from Anglo-French mundain, from Late Latin mundanus, from Latin mundus world

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for mundane

• abstain
• airplane
• alkane
• arcane
• arraign
• attain
• backplane
• betaine
• biplane
• blockchain
• butane
• campaign

Kids Definition

mundane

adjective

mun·​dane ˌmən-ˈdān 

ˈmən-ˌdān

1

: of or relating to the world : worldly

2

: having to do with the practical details of everyday life

mundanely adverb