Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
hackney
noun
/ˈhakni/
Definition
A hackney is a horse-drawn carriage that was used for hire or a term that refers to something that has become used so often that it is now unoriginal.
Examples
- The writer’s hackneyed phrases made the story feel stale.
- During the Victorian era, hackneys were a common sight on the streets of London.
Meaning
In contemporary usage, hackney often describes an idea or expression that has lost its originality due to overuse.
Synonyms
- cliché
- platitude
- overused
