commonplace

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   ordinary and unremarkable; a trite or obvious remark

   Smartphones have become utterly commonplace.

Simplified etymology

Commonplace was originally written common place in the mid-16th century. It translated Latin locus communis, corresponding to Greek koinos topos, “general theme,” terms for a passage on which a speaker could base an argument. People later collected such passages in commonplace books, and their repeated quotation apparently led to the modern sense.

A loan translation of Latin locus communis, itself rendering Ancient Greek koinos topos ('common topic'), originally a rhetorical commonplace; from common (Latin communis) + place (Latin platea, from Greek plateia).

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