prose

noun \ ˈprōz \

|Updated on: 18 Jun 2018

Definition of prose

1 a : the ordinary language people use in speaking or writing

b : a literary medium distinguished from poetry especially by its greater irregularity and variety of rhythm and its closer correspondence to the patterns of everyday speech

2 : a dull or ordinary style, quality, or condition

See prose defined for English-language learners

See prose defined for kids

Examples of prose in a Sentence

… the esteemed critic James Wood reaches out to assure "the common reader" … that his prose is as free as he can make it of what James Joyce termed "the true scholastic stink" of so much academic writing. —Walter Kirn, New York Times Book Review, 17 Aug. 2008
Like many two-person writing teams, this one produces its share of three-legged prose and redundancy. —James McManus, New York Times Book Review, 15 Apr. 2001
In my own work I felt a need to hurry from climax as in film montage, or even in Joycean prose with its strings of firecracker words … —Arthur Miller, Timebends, 1987
She writes in very clear prose.

Recent Examples of prose from the Web

Trailblazing author and journalist Tom Wolfe, known for his impressionistic prose and dapper three-piece white suits, has died at age 88*.

— anna silman, The Cut, "Tom Wolfe Has Died at 88," 15 May 2018
That Heti chooses childlessness, while Chabon chose without undue struggle to become a parent, seems, at least in part, to reflect a difference in personality that is also visible in their prose.

— adam kirsch, The Atlantic, "The Art of Parenthood," 13 May 2018
Critics recognized the virtuosity of the prose and also, in the stereotypes and the gleeful trampling on taboos, an illiberal malice.

— janan ganesh, Town & Country, "The Bonfire of the Vanities," 8 Dec. 2017
The dignified branch governs through poetry, and the efficient branch through prose.

— The Economist, "The monarchy is at its strongest in years, unlike the government," 19 May 2018
And, like his subjects and prose, Dr. Lewis defied easy definition.

— brian murphy, Washington Post, "Bernard Lewis, eminent historian of the Middle East, dies at 101," 19 May 2018
Gathered here are a few favorite lines from her dispatches and prose.

— caroline rogers, Southern Living, "Our Favorite Flannery O’Connor Quotations," 9 May 2018
Flanagan’s prose becomes languidly reliant on the verb feel and all its conjugations.

— william giraldi, Philly.com, "Richard Flanagan's 'First Person': A ghostwriter who fights lies with lies," 6 Apr. 2018
Bring poems or prose to share with writers or just show up to listen and socialize.

— luann gibbs, Cincinnati.com, "Fun and free events this weekend in Cincinnati," 4 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'prose.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of prose

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin prosa, from feminine of prorsus, prosus, straightforward, being in prose, contraction of proversus, past participle of provertere to turn forward, from pro- forward + vertere to turn — more at pro-, worth

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

Other Literature Terms

apophasis, bathos, bildungsroman, bowdlerize, caesura, coda, doggerel, euphemism, poesy, prosody

prose

adjective

Definition of prose

1 : of, relating to, or written in prose

2 : prosaic

Recent Examples of prose from the Web

YESTERDAY’S WORD — FORCEPS force fore fresco froe rope rose cero cope coper copse core corps corpse crop epos peso pore pose poser prose scope score serf sore spore To purchase the Word Game book, visit WordGameBooks.com.

— kathleen saxe, The Mercury News, "Word Game: February 08, 2017," 8 Feb. 2017

Origin and Etymology of prose

see ¹prose

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

Other Literature Terms

apophasis, bathos, bildungsroman, bowdlerize, caesura, coda, doggerel, euphemism, poesy, prosody

prose

verb

Definition of prose

prosed; prosing

intransitive verb

1 : to write prose

2 : to write or speak in a dull or ordinary manner

Examples of prose in a Sentence

'In the meantime,' said Traddles, coming back to his chair; 'and this is the end of my prosing about myself, I get on as well as I can. I don't make much, but I don't spend much … ' —Charles Dickens, David Copperfield, 1850

Recent Examples of prose from the Web

Tae kwon do expert Zoe Zhang kicks to prose read by Taiwanese artist Aristophanes; stuntwoman Jessie Graff flies into the air as Kojey Radical reads on.

— ashley weatherford, The Cut, "Bask in the Glory of Misty Copeland Dancing to Saul Williams," 19 July 2017

Origin and Etymology of prose

see ¹prose

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

Other Literature Terms

apophasis, bathos, bildungsroman, bowdlerize, caesura, coda, doggerel, euphemism, poesy, prosody

pro se

adjective or adverb \ ˈprō-ˈsā , -ˈsē \

Definition of pro se

: on one's own behalf : without an attorney

a pro se action

a defendant's right to proceed pro se

Recent Examples of pro se from the Web

Often, pro se litigants are left waiting for extended periods of time on court dockets, for instance the domestic violence docket.

— nick hollkamp, The Courier-Journal, "Voters guide: Candidates for family court and district judges," 16 May 2018
McGrath also ordered the county to repay a $25 fee a cleveland.com reporter paid to file the pro se lawsuit.

— cory shaffer, cleveland.com, "Judge orders Cuyahoga County to release video of jail guard attacking inmate," 26 Feb. 2018
For example, instead of trying to fund lawyers for litigants who might otherwise represent themselves, legal processes could be made more friendly to pro se representation.

— jonathan h. adler, WSJ, "The Case for Fewer Lawyers," 6 Sep. 2017
Aside from pro se, your options include any one of the following (or a combination thereof), in order of least to most expensive and starting at about $2,000.

— charlotte cowles, The Cut, "I Can’t Afford to Divorce My Rich Husband," 26 Oct. 2017
During courtroom proceedings, judges report, pro se litigants often fail to raise objections or properly introduce evidence.

— jonathan h. adler, WSJ, "The Case for Fewer Lawyers," 6 Sep. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pro se.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of pro se

Latin

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1861

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

PROSE Defined for English Language Learners

prose

noun

Definition of prose for English Language Learners

: writing that is not poetry : ordinary writing

PROSE Defined for Kids

prose

noun \ ˈprōz \

Definition of prose for Students

1 : the ordinary language that people use in speaking or writing

2 : writing without the repeating rhythm that is used in poetry

Law Dictionary

pro se

adverb or adjective \ ˈprō-ˈsā, -ˈsē \

legal Definition of pro se

: on one's own behalf : without an attorney

a defendant's right to proceed pro se

a pro se action

Origin and Etymology of pro se

Latin

Learn More about prose

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prose

Definition of prose

Examples of prose in a Sentence

Recent Examples of prose from the Web

Origin and Etymology of prose

Other Literature Terms

prose

Definition of prose

Recent Examples of prose from the Web

Origin and Etymology of prose

Other Literature Terms

prose

Definition of prose

Examples of prose in a Sentence

Recent Examples of prose from the Web

Origin and Etymology of prose

Other Literature Terms

pro se

Definition of pro se

Recent Examples of pro se from the Web

Origin and Etymology of pro se

PROSE Defined for English Language Learners

prose

Definition of prose for English Language Learners

PROSE Defined for Kids

prose

Definition of prose for Students

Law Dictionary

pro se

legal Definition of pro se

Origin and Etymology of pro se

Learn More about prose

Seen and Heard

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