adjective

prosaic

proh-ZAY-ik/prəʊˈzeɪɪk/

Having the ordinary, unadorned character of prose.

The identical gray cubicles give the office a prosaic appearance.

A dull identical row of plain gray office cubicles and repetitive folders, ordinary unimaginative environment.

Etymology

Originally meaning 'relating to prose,' prosaic came to contrast prose's plain expression with poetry's imaginative feeling and beauty. That contrast produced the broader sense 'ordinary, dull, or unimaginative.'

In context

TED16:09

it's being checked by the Nokia phone that's reading the band. I'm only putting those up to show you these things are prosaic, this stuff works in these environments. They don't need to be special.

David Birch: A new way to stop identity theft

More examples

Her diary records prosaic details like grocery lists and bus schedules.
The explanation is prosaic: someone forgot to charge the battery.
His prosaic descriptions make even the mountain scenery sound dull.

Forms

prosaic · more prosaic · most prosaic

prosaically adverb — In an ordinary or unimaginative manner.

Similar words

mundane: Emphasizes everyday routine rather than a lack of poetic character.
unimaginative: Emphasizes missing creativity rather than an ordinary, unadorned quality.
plain: Emphasizes lack of decoration without necessarily suggesting dullness.