The Complete Vocabulary Builder Workbook by BETTER WORDS R. B. Skinner

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pedestrian

adjective

/pɪˈdɛstrɪən/

IPA:

Dictionary definition of pedestrian

Ordinary, unremarkable, and lacking in imagination or originality.
"He delivered a pedestrian speech that failed to inspire or motivate the audience."

Detailed meaning of pedestrian

When we characterize something as pedestrian, we emphasize its common and uninspiring nature, suggesting that it fails to capture attention or stand out from the usual. Pedestrian ideas or creativity are often considered dull or predictable, lacking the innovation or uniqueness that typically makes something interesting or compelling. Similarly, a pedestrian landscape or setting may lack the visual appeal or distinctive features that distinguish it from the ordinary. This term conveys a sense of banality and a dearth of excitement or novelty, making it synonymous with the mundane or the everyday. "Pedestrian" is often used to critique things that lack flair or imagination, offering nothing beyond the typical or routine.

Example sentences containing pedestrian

1. The pedestrian design of the skyscraper failed to stand out in the cityscape.
2. His speech was painfully pedestrian, devoid of any fresh or thought-provoking ideas.
3. The restaurant's menu was disappointingly pedestrian, offering no culinary surprises.
4. The artwork's color palette appeared pedestrian, lacking the vibrancy of true art.
5. The movie's plot was utterly pedestrian, following a tired and predictable formula.
6. Her fashion sense was pedestrian, favoring basic and unremarkable styles.

History and etymology of pedestrian

The adjective 'pedestrian' has its etymological roots in the Latin word 'pedester,' which is related to 'pes,' meaning 'foot.' Originally, 'pedestrian' referred to things related to walking or going on foot, and it was used to describe people traveling by foot rather than by horse or carriage. Over time, the term evolved metaphorically to describe something as ordinary, unremarkable, and lacking in imagination or originality. It came to characterize ideas, designs, or expressions as uninspired and dull, as if they were as common as walking on foot. Therefore, the etymology of 'pedestrian' underscores its use as an adjective to convey the idea of something being plain and ordinary, without any noteworthy or imaginative qualities.

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Further usage examples of pedestrian

1. The meeting's discussion remained disappointingly pedestrian, with no groundbreaking ideas.
2. The city's architecture was mostly pedestrian, featuring few distinctive landmarks.
3. The website's layout seemed dated and pedestrian, lacking modern design elements.
4. The book's characters were painfully pedestrian, lacking depth and complexity.
5. The party's decorations were mundane and pedestrian, failing to create a vibrant atmosphere.
6. The music playlist was filled with pedestrian pop songs, lacking variety.
7. The athlete's performance was pedestrian, falling far short of expectations.
8. The speech's content was overly pedestrian, lacking depth and substantive content.
9. The conversation became pedestrian, sticking to trivial and uninteresting topics.
10. The garden's landscaping was disappointingly pedestrian, devoid of creative elements.
11. The menu offered only pedestrian options, lacking any gourmet choices.
12. The company's marketing campaign felt pedestrian and unoriginal, failing to capture attention.
13. The town's nightlife was considered pedestrian, with few exciting entertainment options.
14. The debate remained disappointingly pedestrian, with no innovative arguments or insights presented.
15. The movie was pedestrian, lacking in originality and creativity.
16. The book was pedestrian, with a predictable plot and uninteresting characters.
17. The music was pedestrian, offering nothing new or exciting.
18. The presentation was pedestrian, failing to capture the audience's attention.
19. The artwork was pedestrian, lacking in imagination and skill.
20. The game was pedestrian, with poor graphics and uninspired gameplay.
21. The performance was pedestrian, lacking in energy and passion.
22. The design was pedestrian, uninspired and generic.
23. The fashion was pedestrian, lacking in style and flair.
24. The writing was pedestrian, with poor grammar and uninteresting content.
25. The conversation was pedestrian, lacking in depth or interesting topics.