mundane

American  

[muhn-deyn, muhn-deyn] / mʌnˈdeɪn, ˈmʌn deɪn /

adjective

1. common; ordinary; banal; unimaginative.

2. of or relating to this world or earth as contrasted with heaven; worldly; earthly.

   mundane affairs.

   Synonyms:

   temporal, secular

3. of or relating to the world, universe, or earth.

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mundane British  

/ ˈmʌndeɪn, mʌnˈdeɪn /

adjective

1. everyday, ordinary, or banal

2. relating to the world or worldly matters

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Related Words

See earthly.

Other Word Forms

• mundanely adverb
• mundaneness noun
• mundanity noun

Etymology

Origin of mundane

First recorded in 1425–75; from Latin mundānus, equivalent to mund(us) “world” + -ānus -ane; replacing late Middle English mondeyne, from Middle French mondain, from Latin, as above

Example Sentences

I landed in New York with nothing but the robes on my back and my ancient Staff of Dragonfire, which does not work in this mundane realm.

From Literature

So if what Gingersnipes said was true—if caring for the mundane things in his world was, in itself, an act of love—did that make him a good soul after all?

From Literature

Some of the crucial work done at Bell Labs might now seem mundane: for example, how to fabricate sheathing so undersea cables wouldn’t be chewed through by Toredo worms.

From The Wall Street Journal

It was just feeling my way through it intuitively, trying to balance this mundane aspect of being with this guy, but also have enough happen that you’re still engaged.

From Salon

The severity of seemingly mundane, everyday anxieties — school bullies, the prom, graduation, obnoxious Cher-obsessed college roommates — is on par with demons trying to hasten the apocalypse.

From Salon

Related Words

• banal
• day-to-day
• everyday
• humdrum
• normal
• prosaic
• workaday