Word of the Day

: August 16, 2021

bromide

noun BROH-myde

What It Means

A bromide is a commonplace or hackneyed statement or idea.

// His speech had nothing more to offer than the usual bromides about how everyone needs to work together.

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bromide in Context

"A banal bromide like 'trust the science' helps neither science nor the public in the long run. The key is effective communication: neither proselytizing nor bland recitation of the facts." — Cory Franklin, The Wyoming County (Pennsylvania) Press Examiner, 9 Dec. 2020

Did You Know?

After bromine was discovered in 1827, chemists could not resist experimenting with the new element. It didn't take long before they found uses for its compounds, in particular potassium bromide, which was used as a sedative to treat everything from epilepsy to sleeplessness. By the 20th century, bromide was being used figuratively to apply to anything or anyone that might put one to sleep because of commonness or just plain dullness.