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
Edward Dolnick2
: 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
Gregory S. Paul
mun·dan·i·ty
ˌmənˈdanətē 
plural -es
1
: the quality or state of being mundane : worldliness
an ideal opposed to mundanity
2
: worldly inclinations
—often used in plural
charm and graciousness, —her appreciation of fine clothes and houses—these are all mundanities—Harper's Bazaar
Harper's BazaarExamples of mundane in a Sentence
Adjective
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
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
Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 9 June 2026
These seemingly mundane experiences reflect the structural importance of insurance in our housing finance and climate risk management systems in the United States and beyond.
—Zac Taylor, The Conversation, 9 June 2026
The chips and hot sauce are mundane.
—Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 June 2026
Chiwetel Ejiofor plays an embittered furniture store owner who discovers a passage into the mundane alt-space, eventually drawing two young employees and his therapist, played by fellow Oscar nominee Renate Reinsve, into also braving its potential dangers.
—The Week Us, TheWeek, 8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for mundane
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Adjective
Hence the brand tasks perfumers to encapsulate mundane episodes in bottles.
—Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 9 June 2026
These seemingly mundane experiences reflect the structural importance of insurance in our housing finance and climate risk management systems in the United States and beyond.
—Zac Taylor, The Conversation, 9 June 2026
The chips and hot sauce are mundane.
—Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 June 2026
Chiwetel Ejiofor plays an embittered furniture store owner who discovers a passage into the mundane alt-space, eventually drawing two young employees and his therapist, played by fellow Oscar nominee Renate Reinsve, into also braving its potential dangers.
—The Week Us, TheWeek, 8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for mundane
Cite this Entry
“Mundane.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mundane. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
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