English Lexicon

Cliché

/kliːˈʃeɪ/
nounCEFR B2 (Upper)Top #1500 frequency
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Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As noun
  1. 1

    A phrase or opinion that is overused and betrays a lack of original thought.

    "The phrase 'think outside the box' has become a cliché in business meetings."
  2. 2

    A stereotyped or conventional idea or expression.

    "The movie was filled with clichés that made it predictable."

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Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

The term 'cliché' originates from the French word 'clicher', which means 'to stereotype' or 'to make a stereotype'. It was first used in the English language in the late 19th century, referring to a printing plate that could reproduce the same image repeatedly, thus evolving to describe overused expressions or ideas.

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