plain-vanilla

adjective

plain-va·​nil·​la
: lacking special features or qualities : basic

Examples of plain-vanilla in a Sentence

we decided to buy the plain-vanilla model because we don't have a lot of money to spend on extras
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
By blending plain-vanilla money funds with blockchain rails, the firm is proving that tokenization is not just a theory but a functioning business model. Christer Holloman, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025 Your dingy, plain-vanilla concrete drive can be transformed to a stunning art piece by installing a thin cement stucco coating. Tim Carter, Hartford Courant, 2 Aug. 2025 As a FactSet researcher told The Wall Street Journal, a more efficient, though less satisfying, way to virtue-signal would be to buy a plain-vanilla index fund and donate the investment gains to a political cause. semafor.com, 8 July 2025 Replacing the plain-vanilla look of the previous iteration, Alfa G’s black hull with a signature red stripe and white superstructure complete this remarkable conversion. Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 10 June 2025 While the Federal Reserve began dialing back interest rates last fall, investors spent much of 2024 enjoying attractive yields on a range of plain-vanilla savings products. Darla Mercado, Cfp®, CNBC, 28 Jan. 2025 Even plain-vanilla index funds like the InfraCap MLP ETF (AMZA) deal with dividend declines; unlike traditional companies that will maintain a specific dividend level, MLPs’ distributions tend to shift with their profits. Brett Owens, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1959, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of plain-vanilla was in 1959

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Cite this Entry

“Plain-vanilla.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plain-vanilla. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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