Meaning
Common in a boring way, to the point of being predictable; containing nothing new or fresh.
Etymology
Origin: Latin
Borrowed from French banal (“held in common, relating to feudal service, by extension commonplace”), from Old French banel, related to Medieval Latin bannālis (“subject to feudal authority”), from Latin bannus (“jurisdiction”), both ultimately from Proto-Germanic *bannaną (“to order, summon, forbid”). Equivalent to ban + -al. See also ban, abandon.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
Antonyms
neworiginal
NYT Puzzle Appearances
Accepted in 26 recorded puzzles:
- 2026-09-21NABEJLY
- 2026-03-29BANICLO
- 2026-02-01BANIGLO
- 2025-12-29BNALGDI
- 2025-12-14BVANIEL
- 2025-12-09LRAOCBN
- 2025-10-06LABGINZ
- 2025-09-05ABEJLNY
- 2025-07-31BANILGR
- 2025-07-24LANFBIY
- 2025-06-15LNAICBH
- 2025-05-25NPAOEBL
+14 earlier appearances in the archive.