Meaning & Definition of word "Ordinary"

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    Ordinary

    /ˈɔːrdəneri/

    adjective:

    • 1. With no special or distinctive features; normal.
      • Example: She wore an ordinary dress to the party instead of something extravagant.
    • 2. Common or usual; not extraordinary.
      • Example: His performance was ordinary, nothing that stood out from the rest.
    • 3. Of a kind to be expected in the normal course of events.
      • Example: It's an ordinary day at the office, just the usual routines.
    • 4. Belonging to a particular category or class that is not special.
      • Example: The restaurant serves ordinary food at reasonable prices.

    Etymology

    From Middle English 'ordinarie', from Latin 'ordinarius', meaning 'belonging to order'.

    Common Phrases and Expressions

    ordinary people:

    People considered to be average or typical.

    ordinary time:

    A term in the Christian liturgical calendar that refers to the periods not marked by specific feasts.

    ordinary course of events:

    A usual or expected sequence of occurrences.

    Related Words

    extraordinary:

    Unusual, remarkable, or exceptional.

    ordinaryness:

    The quality of being ordinary.

    ordinariness:

    The state of being commonplace or average.

    Slang Meanings of ordinary

    Meaning: Basic

    Example Sentence: This place is so basic, it's just ordinary.

    Meaning: Run-of-the-mill

    Example Sentence: That movie was just run-of-the-mill, nothing special.