Banal

Something that’s “banal” (BAY-nul or buh-NALL) is trivial or trite. The word is derived from a French word meaning “of or relating to compulsory feudal service.” This evolved to signify “merely obligatory” – hence, commonplace.

Example (as used by Joyce Carol Oates in The New York Times): “How does the poet transform his banal thoughts (are not most thoughts banal?) into such stunning forms, into beauty?”
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