Mundane
/mʌnˈdeɪn/
adjectiveB2
Definition
Mundane describes things that are usual, common, or part of daily life without excitement or special qualities. It often refers to tasks, events, or experiences that feel boring or simple because they happen all the time and are not new or unusual.
Was this helpful?
See It in Action
Ordinary or usual, often in a boring way
- •He found his job mundane because it was the same work every day.
- •Cleaning the house is a mundane task many people do regularly.
- •The movie was about the mundane details of everyday life.
Related to the physical world or everyday life, not spiritual or magical (less common meaning)
- •The story mixed magical elements with mundane reality.
- •She preferred mundane problems over imaginary ones.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of 'mundane' like 'normal' or 'everyday,' but with a feeling that it is a bit boring or dull
- ✓Picture doing simple tasks like washing dishes or waiting in line—these are everyday, plain activities
- ✓It’s the feeling when your day is full of small, repeated jobs that don’t excite you
- ✓Sounds like 'mun-DANE' → imagine a plain DANe dog doing the same boring thing every day
- ✓In stories, characters sometimes want to escape their mundane life to find adventure or excitement
- ✓NOT like 'exciting' or 'special,' mundane things do not stand out or make you feel happy or surprised
- ✓NOT like 'unique' (one of a kind), mundane things are common and happen often
Try Other Words
- •Boring: not interesting or exciting (Use when you want to emphasize the feeling of dullness)
- •Ordinary: normal and usual (Use when you want to say something is common without strong emotions)
- •Everyday: happening every day or very often (Use when focusing on frequency rather than quality)
- •Routine: done regularly as part of a habit (Use when emphasizing repeated actions)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: No clear prefix or suffix; 'mundane' comes directly from a root word
- •Etymology: From Latin 'mundanus,' meaning 'worldly' or 'belonging to the world' (related to 'mundus' meaning 'world')
- •Historical development: Originally meant 'of the world' or 'earthly' as opposed to spiritual; over time, it came to mean ordinary or common in English
- •Modern usage: Used mainly to describe everyday life or tasks that feel dull or uninteresting
Reflect & Connect
•How do you feel when your day is full of mundane tasks? Can these tasks ever feel meaningful?
•Can something mundane become interesting if you look at it differently? How?
Fill in the blanks
1.She felt tired because her job was ___ and did not offer new challenges.
2.People often want to escape their ___ lives to find excitement or adventure.
3.Unlike exciting events, mundane tasks usually happen ___ and without surprise.
4.The story mixed magical creatures with ___ reality to show contrast.
5.He described his daily routine as ___, but he still found small joys in it.
6.When something is ___, it often means it is normal, but also a bit boring or plain.
7.You can use 'ordinary' or 'mundane,' but 'mundane' often shows a feeling of ___ or lack of interest.