Word of the Day - 03/28/26
platitude
/'plætɪ,tjud/(n.): a trite or obvious remark
The politician's speech was full of platitudes about 'working together' and 'building a better future'.
Word Origin
The word 'platitude' originates from the French word 'platitude', which literally means 'flatness'. It is composed of 'plat' (meaning 'flat', from Old French 'plat', ultimately from Vulgar Latin *plattus* and Ancient Greek "platy"), and the suffix '-itude' (from Latin '-itudo', indicating a state or quality). Thus, a platitude is metaphorically a statement that is 'flat', unoriginal, or lacking depth.
Words with a similar origin, sharing the 'plat-' root meaning 'flat', include 'plate' and 'plateau'. Words sharing the Latin suffix '-itude' (denoting a state or quality) include 'magnitude', 'latitude', 'solitude', and 'attitude'.