proverbial

adjective

pro·​ver·​bi·​al prə-ˈvər-bē-əl 

1

: of, relating to, or resembling a proverb

2

: that has become a proverb or byword : commonly spoken of

the proverbial smoking gun

proverbially

prə-ˈvər-bē-ə-lē 

adverb

Examples of proverbial in a Sentence

Insanity roamed through her large midwestern tribe, cloistered in proverbial dark closets in gabled houses in areas of the country where no one else lived for miles and miles … —Lynne Tillman, Motion Sickness, 1991

I keep running across people who speak fondly about what they imagine to be the comforts of autocracy, who long for the assurances of the proverbial man on the white horse likely to do something hard and puritanical about the moral relativism that has made a mess of the cities, the schools, and prime-time television. —Lewis H. Lapham, Harper's, November 1990

Recent Examples on the Web

Aside from gameplay, the real blow-your-socks-off differences are in franchise mode where the team has put their money where their proverbial mouth is with the best version of the iconic feature. — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026

Lee insisted the district’s objection was water under the proverbial bridge. — Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 9 Aug. 2026

For starters, her proverbial Favorite Things List has become my North Star for style finds and items that are worth buying. — Tessa Petak, InStyle, 9 Aug. 2026

Telling such a tale of taking the proverbial bull by the horns would play well in the presidential election as well. — Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

see proverb entry 1

First Known Use

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for proverbial

• adverbial

Kids Definition

proverbial

adjective

pro·​ver·​bi·​al prə-ˈvər-bē-əl 

1

: of, relating to, or resembling a proverb

proverbial wisdom

2

: commonly spoken of

the proverbial beginner's luck

proverbially

-bē-ə-lē 

adverb