Ordinary people or things are normal and not special or different in any way.
I strongly suspect that most ordinary people would agree with me.
It has 25 calories less than ordinary ice cream.
It was just an ordinary weekend for us.
Synonyms: usual, standard, normal, common More Synonyms of ordinary
2. graded adjective
If you describe someone or something as ordinary, you mean they are not special or interesting in any way and may be rather dull.
I'm just a very ordinary, boring normal guy.
Your life since then must have seemed very ordinary.
...very ordinary, if very well made, drinking glasses, lamps and tableware.
3.
See out of the ordinary
More Synonyms of ordinary
ordinary in British English
(ˈɔːdənrɪ)
adjective
1.
of common or established type or occurrence
2.
familiar, everyday, or unexceptional
3.
uninteresting or commonplace
4.
having regular or ex officio jurisdiction
an ordinary judge
5. mathematics
(of a differential equation) containing two variables only and derivatives of one of the variables with respect to the other
nounWord forms: plural-naries
6.
a common or average situation, amount, or degree (esp in the phrase out of the ordinary)
7.
a normal or commonplace person or thing
8. civil law
a judge who exercises jurisdiction in his or her own right
9. (usually capital)
an ecclesiastic, esp a bishop, holding an office to which certain jurisdictional powers are attached
10. Roman Catholic Church
a.
the parts of the Mass that do not vary from day to day
Compare proper (sense 13)
b.
a prescribed form of divine service, esp the Mass
11. the US name for penny-farthing
12. heraldry
any of several conventional figures, such as the bend, the fesse, and the cross, commonly charged upon shields
13. history
a clergyman who visited condemned prisoners before their death
14. British obsolete
a.
a meal provided regularly at a fixed price
b.
the inn providing such meals
15. in ordinary
Word origin
C16: (adj) and C13: (some n senses): ultimately from Latin ordinārius orderly, from ordō order
ordinary in American English
(ˈɔrdənˌɛri)
nounWord forms: pluralˈordiˌnaries
1.
a.
an official having jurisdiction within a specified area by right of the office heor she holds; esp., a bishop having such jurisdiction within his or her own diocese
b. US
in some states, a judge of probate
2. British
a.
a set meal served regularly at the same price
b.
an inn, tavern, etc. where such meals are served
3.
an early type of bicycle with one large wheel, and a smaller one behind
4. [oftenO-]; Ecclesiastical
a.
the form to be followed in a service
b.
the parts of the Mass that are fixed or relatively unvarying; common
5. Heraldry
any one of the basic heraldic devices, as bend, fess, etc.
adjective
6.
customary; usual; regular; normal
7.
a.
familiar; unexceptional; common; average
b.
relatively poor or inferior; below average
8.
having immediate, not delegated, jurisdiction, as a judge
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈcommon
Idioms:
out of the ordinary
Derived forms
ordinariness (ˌordiˈnariness)
noun
Word origin
OFr & ML: OFr ordinarie < ML(Ec) ordinarius < L, an overseer, orig., orderly, regular < ordo, order
Examples of 'ordinary' in a sentence
ordinary
We're going to have to make our way home by more ordinary means.
Jennifer Fallon TREASON KEEP (2001)
He simply couldn't grasp that anybody would pay such an enormous sum of money for something that looked like an ordinary music disc.
Stuart Harrison BETTER THAN THIS (2001)
However, when Filris arrived an hour later, she came alone and clearly needed no help with the ordinary world.
Garth Nix LIRAEL: DAUGHTER OF THE CLAYR (2001)
His seemingly uncanny ability to accomplish more than an ordinary mortal could achieve would thus be explained.
Elizabeth Peters LION IN THE VALLEY (2001)
Word lists with
ordinary
heraldry
In other languages
ordinary
British English: ordinary /ˈɔːdnrɪ/ ADJECTIVE
Ordinary people or things are not special or different in any way.
Most ordinary people would agree with me.
American English: ordinary
Arabic: عَادِيٌّ
Brazilian Portuguese: comum
Chinese: 普通的
Croatian: običan
Czech: obyčejný
Danish: almindelig
Dutch: gewoon
European Spanish: corriente normal
Finnish: tavallinen
French: ordinaire
German: gewöhnlich
Greek: συνηθισμένος
Italian: ordinario
Japanese: 普通の
Korean: 보통의
Norwegian: hverdagslig
Polish: zwykły
European Portuguese: comum
Romanian: obișnuit
Russian: обычный
Latin American Spanish: corriente ordinario
Swedish: vanlig
Thai: อย่างธรรมดา
Turkish: sıradan
Ukrainian: звичайний
Vietnamese: bình thường
Chinese translation of 'ordinary'
ordinary
(ˈɔːdnrɪ)
adj
(= everyday) 普通的 (pǔtōng de)
(pej, = mediocre) 平常的 (píngcháng de)
out of the ordinary (= exceptional) 非凡的 (fēifán de)
1 (adjective)
Definition
usual or normal
It was just an ordinary day for us.
Synonyms
usual
She's smiling her usual, friendly smile.
standard
It was standard practice for them to advise in cases of murder.
normal
The two countries have resumed normal diplomatic relations.
The hospital claimed they were simply following their normal procedure.
common
Earthquakes are fairly common in this part of the world.
established
settled
regular
Children are encouraged to make reading a regular routine.
familiar
They are already familiar faces on our TV screens.
household
typical
typical pastimes such as watching films and reading
conventional
the cost of fuel and electricity used by a conventional system
routine
a series of routine medical tests
stock
They supply stock sizes outside the middle range.
everyday
an exhilarating escape from the drudgery of everyday life
prevailing
individuals who have gone against the prevailing opinion
accustomed
He took up his accustomed position at the fire.
customary
It is customary to offer a drink or a snack to guests.
habitual
He soon recovered his habitual geniality.
quotidian
the minutiae of their quotidian existence
wonted
2 (adjective)
Definition
not special or different in any way
My life seems pretty ordinary compared to yours.
Synonyms
commonplace
The practice was virtually unheard of twenty years ago, but has now become commonplace.
plain
We are just plain people.
modest
the modest home of a family who lived off the land
humble
He came from a fairly humble, poor background.
stereotyped
Listeners seem to have stereotyped ideas.
pedestrian
His style is so pedestrian that the book is really boring.
mundane
Be willing to do mundane tasks with good grace.
vanilla (slang)
I've just got a plain vanilla insurance policy.
stale
repeating stale jokes to kill the time
banal
The text is banal.
unremarkable
prosaic
the aimless monotony of our prosaic everyday life
run-of-the-mill
humdrum
trapped in a humdrum but well-paid job
homespun
uninteresting
Why did he choose these pale, nerveless, uninteresting people?
workaday
an escape from the tedium of the workaday world
common or garden (informal)
unmemorable
3 (adjective)
Definition
dull or unexciting
The food here is cheap, but very ordinary.
Synonyms
average
I was only average academically.
middling
They enjoyed only middling success until 1963.
fair
He had a fair command of English.
indifferent
She had starred in several indifferent movies.
not bad
These are not bad for cheap shoes.
mediocre
His university record was mediocre.
so-so (informal)
Their lunch was only so-so.
unremarkable
tolerable (informal)
Is there anywhere tolerable to eat in town?
run-of-the-mill
I was a run-of-the-mill kind of student.
passable
The meal was passable, but nothing special.
undistinguished
his short and undistinguished career as an art student
uninspired
The script was singularly uninspired.
unexceptional
a pretty unexceptional bunch of players
bog-standard (British, Irish, slang)
no great shakes (informal)
The album is no great shakes.
dime-a-dozen (informal)
Opposites
special
,
novel
,
rare
,
inspired
,
unique
,
unusual
,
impressive
,
extraordinary
,
outstanding
,
distinguished
,
superior
,
exceptional
,
notable
idiom
See out of the ordinary
Seeeveryday
Synonyms of 'ordinary'
ordinary
Explore 'ordinary' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of conventional
Definition
established by accepted usage or general agreement
the cost of fuel and electricity used by a conventional system
Synonyms
ordinary,
standard,
normal,
regular,
usual,
vanilla (slang),
habitual,
bog-standard (British, Irish, slang),
common
in the sense of customary
Definition
usual
It is customary to offer a drink or a snack to guests.
Synonyms
usual,
general,
common,
accepted,
established,
traditional,
normal,
ordinary,
familiar,
acknowledged,
conventional,
routine,
everyday
in the sense of everyday
Definition
suitable for or used on ordinary days
an exhilarating escape from the drudgery of everyday life
Synonyms
ordinary,
common,
usual,
familiar,
conventional,
routine,
dull,
stock,
accustomed,
customary,
commonplace,
mundane,
vanilla (slang),
banal,
habitual,
run-of-the-mill,
unimaginative,
workaday,
unexceptional,
bog-standard (British, Irish, slang),
common or garden (informal),
dime-a-dozen (informal),
wonted
in the sense of fair
Definition
quite large
He had a fair command of English.
Synonyms
respectable,
middling,
average,
reasonable,
decent,
acceptable,
moderate,
adequate,
satisfactory,
not bad,
mediocre,
so-so (informal),
tolerable,
passable,
O.K. or okay (informal),
all right
in the sense of familiar
Definition
frequent or common
They are already familiar faces on our TV screens.
Synonyms
well-known,
household,
everyday,
recognized,
common,
stock,
domestic,
repeated,
ordinary,
conventional,
routine,
frequent,
accustomed,
customary,
mundane,
recognizable,
common or garden (informal)
in the sense of habitual
Definition
done regularly and repeatedly
He soon recovered his habitual geniality.
Synonyms
customary,
normal,
usual,
common,
standard,
natural,
traditional,
fixed,
regular,
ordinary,
familiar,
routine,
accustomed,
wonted
in the sense of humble
Definition
modest and unpretentious
He came from a fairly humble, poor background.
Synonyms
lowly,
common,
poor,
mean,
low,
simple,
ordinary,
modest,
obscure,
commonplace,
insignificant,
unimportant,
unpretentious,
undistinguished,
plebeian,
low-born
in the sense of humdrum
Definition
ordinary, dull, and uninteresting
trapped in a humdrum but well-paid job
Synonyms
dull,
ordinary,
boring,
routine,
commonplace,
mundane,
tedious,
dreary,
banal,
tiresome,
monotonous,
uneventful,
uninteresting,
mind-numbing,
ho-hum (informal),
repetitious,
wearisome,
unvaried
in the sense of indifferent
Definition
of only average standard or quality
She had starred in several indifferent movies.
Synonyms
mediocre,
middling,
average,
fair,
ordinary,
moderate,
insignificant,
unimportant,
so-so (informal),
immaterial,
passable,
undistinguished,
uninspired,
of no consequence,
no great shakes (informal),
half-pie (New Zealand, informal)
in the sense of mediocre
Definition
not very high quality
His university record was mediocre.
Synonyms
second-rate,
average,
ordinary,
indifferent,
middling,
pedestrian,
inferior,
commonplace,
vanilla (slang),
insignificant,
so-so (informal),
banal,
tolerable (informal),
run-of-the-mill,
passable,
undistinguished,
uninspired,
bog-standard (British, Irish, slang),
no great shakes (informal),
half-pie (New Zealand, informal),
fair to middling (informal),
meh (slang)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of middling
Definition
neither very good nor very bad
They enjoyed only middling success until 1963.
Synonyms
mediocre,
all right,
indifferent,
so-so (informal),
unremarkable,
tolerable (informal),
run-of-the-mill,
passable,
serviceable,
unexceptional,
half-pie (New Zealand, informal),
O.K. or okay (informal)
in the sense of modest
Definition
not ostentatious or pretentious
the modest home of a family who lived off the land
Synonyms
simple,
homely,
small,
ordinary,
plain,
humble,
low-cost,
inexpensive,
unpretentious,
unostentatious,
unimposing
in the sense of mundane
Definition
everyday, ordinary, and therefore not very interesting
Be willing to do mundane tasks with good grace.
Synonyms
ordinary,
routine,
commonplace,
banal,
everyday,
day-to-day,
vanilla (slang),
prosaic,
humdrum,
workaday
in the sense of no great shakes
The album is no great shakes.
Synonyms
unexceptional,
mediocre,
not very good,
rubbish,
pedestrian,
crap (slang),
indifferent,
unremarkable,
run-of-the-mill,
uninspiring,
undistinguished,
unimpressive,
nothing to write home about (informal),
half-pie (New Zealand, informal)
in the sense of normal
Definition
usual, regular, or typical
The two countries have resumed normal diplomatic relations.The hospital claimed they were simply following their normal procedure.
Synonyms
usual,
common,
standard,
average,
natural,
regular,
ordinary,
acknowledged,
typical,
conventional,
routine,
accustomed,
habitual,
run-of-the-mill
in the sense of not bad
Definition
fairly good
These are not bad for cheap shoes.
Synonyms
O.K. or okay,
fine,
middling,
average,
fair,
all right,
acceptable,
moderate,
adequate,
respectable,
satisfactory,
so-so,
tolerable (informal),
passable,
fair to middling (informal)
in the sense of passable
Definition
adequate or acceptable
The meal was passable, but nothing special.
Synonyms
adequate,
middling,
average,
fair,
all right,
ordinary,
acceptable,
moderate,
fair enough,
mediocre,
so-so (informal),
tolerable,
not too bad,
allowable,
presentable,
admissible,
unexceptional,
half-pie (New Zealand, informal)
in the sense of pedestrian
Definition
dull or commonplace
His style is so pedestrian that the book is really boring.
Synonyms
dull,
flat,
ordinary,
boring,
commonplace,
mundane,
mediocre,
plodding,
banal,
prosaic,
run-of-the-mill,
humdrum,
unimaginative,
uninteresting,
uninspired,
ho-hum (informal),
no great shakes (informal),
half-pie (New Zealand, informal)
in the sense of plain
Definition
lowly, esp. in social rank or education
We are just plain people.
Synonyms
ordinary,
homely,
common,
simple,
modest,
everyday,
commonplace,
lowly,
unaffected,
unpretentious,
frugal,
workaday
in the sense of prevailing
Definition
widespread
individuals who have gone against the prevailing opinion
Synonyms
widespread,
general,
established,
popular,
common,
set,
current,
usual,
ordinary,
fashionable,
in style,
customary,
prevalent,
in vogue,
preponderating,
dominant,
influential
Additional synonyms
in the sense of prosaic
Definition
lacking imagination
the aimless monotony of our prosaic everyday life
Synonyms
dull,
ordinary,
boring,
routine,
flat,
dry,
everyday,
tame,
pedestrian,
commonplace,
mundane,
matter-of-fact,
stale,
banal,
uninspiring,
humdrum,
trite,
unimaginative,
hackneyed,
workaday,
vapid
in the sense of quotidian
Definition
commonplace
the minutiae of their quotidian existence
Synonyms
regular,
ordinary,
routine,
everyday,
common,
customary,
commonplace,
habitual
in the sense of regular
Definition
following a set rule or normal practice
Children are encouraged to make reading a regular routine.
Synonyms
normal,
common,
established,
usual,
ordinary,
typical,
routine,
everyday,
customary,
commonplace,
habitual,
unvarying
in the sense of routine
Definition
relating to or characteristic of routine
a series of routine medical tests
Synonyms
usual,
standard,
normal,
customary,
ordinary,
familiar,
typical,
conventional,
everyday,
habitual,
workaday,
wonted
in the sense of run-of-the-mill
Definition
ordinary or average
I was a run-of-the-mill kind of student.
Synonyms
ordinary,
middling,
average,
fair,
modest,
commonplace,
common,
vanilla (informal),
mediocre,
banal,
tolerable (informal),
passable,
undistinguished,
unimpressive,
unexciting,
unexceptional,
bog-standard (British, Irish, slang),
no great shakes (informal),
dime-a-dozen (informal)
in the sense of so-so
Definition
neither good nor bad
Their lunch was only so-so.
Synonyms
average,
middling,
fair,
ordinary,
moderate,
adequate,
respectable,
indifferent,
not bad (informal),
tolerable,
run-of-the-mill,
passable,
undistinguished,
fair to middling (informal),
O.K. or okay (informal)
in the sense of stale
Definition
uninteresting from having been done or seen too many times
repeating stale jokes to kill the time
Synonyms
unoriginal,
banal,
trite,
common,
flat,
stereotyped,
commonplace,
worn-out,
antiquated,
threadbare,
old hat,
insipid,
hackneyed,
overused,
repetitious,
platitudinous,
cliché-ridden
in the sense of standard
Definition
of a usual, medium, or accepted kind
It was standard practice for them to advise in cases of murder.
Synonyms
usual,
normal,
customary,
set,
stock,
average,
popular,
basic,
regular,
typical,
prevailing,
orthodox,
staple,
one-size-fits-all
in the sense of stereotyped
Listeners seem to have stereotyped ideas.
Synonyms
unoriginal,
stock,
standard,
tired,
conventional,
played out,
stale,
banal,
standardized,
mass-produced,
corny (slang),
threadbare,
trite,
hackneyed,
overused,
platitudinous,
cliché-ridden
in the sense of stock
Definition
staple
They supply stock sizes outside the middle range.
Synonyms
regular,
traditional,
usual,
basic,
ordinary,
conventional,
staple,
customary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of tolerable
Definition
fairly good
Is there anywhere tolerable to eat in town?
Synonyms
fair,
O.K. or okay (informal),
middling,
average,
all right,
ordinary,
acceptable,
reasonable,
good enough,
adequate,
indifferent,
not bad (informal),
mediocre,
so-so (informal),
run-of-the-mill,
passable,
unexceptional,
fairly good,
fair to middling
in the sense of typical
Definition
being or serving as a representative example of a particular type
typical pastimes such as watching films and reading
Synonyms
archetypal,
standard,
model,
normal,
classic,
stock,
essential,
representative,
usual,
conventional,
regular,
characteristic,
orthodox,
signature,
indicative,
illustrative,
archetypical,
stereotypical
in the sense of undistinguished
Definition
not particularly good or bad
his short and undistinguished career as an art student
Synonyms
ordinary,
mediocre,
unremarkable,
everyday,
pedestrian,
indifferent,
commonplace,
vanilla (informal),
so-so (informal),
prosaic,
run-of-the-mill,
unimpressive,
unexciting,
unexceptional,
no great shakes (informal),
nothing to write home about (informal)
in the sense of unexceptional
Definition
usual, ordinary, or normal
a pretty unexceptional bunch of players
Synonyms
ordinary,
mediocre,
unremarkable,
normal,
usual,
conventional,
pedestrian,
commonplace,
insignificant,
run-of-the-mill,
undistinguished,
unimpressive,
bog-standard (British, Irish, slang),
common or garden (informal),
no great shakes (informal),
nothing to write home about (informal)
in the sense of uninspired
Definition
not particularly good or exciting
The script was singularly uninspired.
Synonyms
unexciting,
banal,
unimaginative,
stock,
ordinary,
dull,
indifferent,
commonplace,
vanilla (informal),
stale,
prosaic,
uninspiring,
humdrum,
uninteresting,
unoriginal
in the sense of uninteresting
Definition
boring or dull
Why did he choose these pale, nerveless, uninteresting people?