Platitude
/ˈplætɪˌtjuːd/
nounC1
Definition
A platitude is a phrase or sentence that people say many times because it sounds wise or true, but it is actually very simple and does not give new or useful information. People often use platitudes to try to comfort someone or explain something, but they can seem boring or unhelpful because they are so common.
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See It in Action
A dull or overused statement meant to sound wise
- •He gave a platitude about how hard life is, but it didn’t really help.
- •The speech was full of platitudes that everyone had heard before.
- •Saying "time heals all wounds" is a common platitude.
A statement used to comfort or encourage, but lacking real meaning
- •When she was sad, people told her platitudes that didn’t make her feel better.
- •Politicians often use platitudes to avoid giving real answers.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "platitude" like "sentence," but one that is used too much and feels empty or not interesting
- ✓Picture hearing the same advice or phrase over and over, like "Everything happens for a reason," which feels like a repeated, tired sentence
- ✓It's the feeling when someone says something that sounds nice but doesn't really help or make you feel better
- ✓Sounds like "PLAT-ih-tood" → imagine a flat (PLAT) piece of bread (to remember "flat" meaning dull or plain) that has no flavor or excitement
- ✓Think of a time when someone said a phrase to you that you already heard many times and it didn’t feel special or true
- ✓NOT like "advice" (which is helpful and new), a platitude is often empty and too common
- ✓NOT like "joke" (funny), a platitude is serious but boring and overused
- ✓NOT like "truth" (deep or important), a platitude is often shallow and obvious
Try Other Words
- •Cliché: a phrase or idea that is overused and not original (Use when talking about ideas or expressions repeated too often)
- •Banality: something very ordinary and not interesting (Use when emphasizing dullness or lack of meaning)
- •Commonplace: something usual or ordinary (Use when the focus is on how normal and repeated the phrase is)
- •Truism: a statement that is obviously true and says nothing new (Use when the phrase is true but obvious and boring)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: from French "plat" (flat) + "-itude" (a suffix forming nouns that describe a state or quality)
- •Etymology: borrowed from French, meaning "flatness" or dullness in speech or thought
- •Historical development: originally meant flatness or dullness, later used to describe dull, repeated phrases in language
- •Modern usage: used to describe statements that are overused and lack originality or real meaning, often in speech or writing
Reflect & Connect
•Why do people often use platitudes even when they know the phrases are not very helpful?
•Can a platitude ever become meaningful if said in the right moment or by the right person?
Fill in the blanks
1.When someone feels sad, they often hear platitudes like "___ ___ ___" that do not really help.
2.A platitude is different from real advice because it is often ___ and ___.
3.Politicians sometimes use platitudes to avoid giving ___ answers to difficult questions.
4.Saying the same platitude again and again can make people feel ___ or ___.
5.A platitude usually lacks new ideas and is ___ repeated by many people.
6.Unlike a joke, a platitude is serious but ___ and ___.
7.When you hear a platitude, you can expect it to be a ___ and ___ statement.