PROSAIC

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does prosaic mean? 

• PROSAIC (adjective)
  The adjective PROSAIC has 3 senses:

1. not fanciful or imaginative

2. lacking wit or imagination

3. not challenging; dull and lacking excitement

  Familiarity information: PROSAIC used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PROSAIC (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Not fanciful or imaginative

Synonyms:

matter-of-fact; prosaic

Context example:

a prosaic and unimaginative essay

Similar:

unrhetorical (not rhetorical)

Derivation:

prosaicness (commonplaceness as a consequence of being humdrum and not exciting)

prose (matter of fact, commonplace, or dull expression)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Lacking wit or imagination

Synonyms:

earthbound; pedestrian; prosaic; prosy

Context example:

a pedestrian movie plot

Similar:

uninteresting (arousing no interest or attention or curiosity or excitement)

Derivation:

prosaicness (commonplaceness as a consequence of being humdrum and not exciting)

prose (matter of fact, commonplace, or dull expression)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Not challenging; dull and lacking excitement

Synonyms:

commonplace; humdrum; prosaic; unglamorous; unglamourous

Context example:

an unglamorous job greasing engines

Similar:

unexciting (not exciting)

Derivation:

prosaicness (commonplaceness as a consequence of being humdrum and not exciting)

prose (matter of fact, commonplace, or dull expression)

 Context examples 

What a prosaic motive! It seems to take all the romance out of it.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“Just so,” said Mrs. Micawber, “my dear Mr. Traddles, I wish to be as prosaic and literal as possible on a subject of so much importance.”

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

It was a prosaic way of forming a friendship, but it was effective.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It was hard to believe that amongst so prosaic surroundings of neglect and dust and decay there was any ground for such fear as already we knew.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

The other mansions belonged to prosaic and respectable people who live far aloof from romance.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It is to be a cold, prosaic, matter-of-fact business proposition.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

“I mean the real prosaic fact, you know—”

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Let me be prosaic so far as facts can be; it will help me to bear up, and imagination must not run riot with me. If it does I am lost.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

For my own part I performed my usual role of bringing things down to a strictly prosaic and practical level by the remark that one of the Indians was missing.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Well, Mrs. Lucca, said the prosaic Gregson, laying his hand upon the lady’s sleeve with as little sentiment as if she were a Notting Hill hooligan, I am not very clear yet who you are or what you are; but you’ve said enough to make it very clear that we shall want you at the Yard.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)