CultureJuly 9, 2026
banality
/bəˈnæl.ɪ.ti/
Definition
The quality of being predictable, unoriginal, or lacking in freshness and significance, especially in the context of industry processes.
Etymology
Derived from the French 'banalite', which comes from the Old French 'banal' meaning 'belonging to a lord' or 'common to all'. It evolved to describe things that are so commonplace they lose their meaning or distinction.
In the news
In the article, Charli XCX critiques the banality of music marketing, suggesting that corporate strategies often reduce artistic identity to hollow, predictable trends. This highlights her desire to move beyond artificial industry structures.
‘Music, Fashion, Film’ and the death of ‘Brat’: Charli XCX’s new creative era
Read the full article ↗EL PAÍS English