What does bromidic mean?
Bromidic is an adjective used to describe speech, writing, or ideas that are trite, banal, and painfully predictable. A bromidic remark offers nothing new: it recycles worn-out phrases and safe, conventional sentiments instead of genuine thought. The word derives from 'bromide', a term popularized by American writer Gelett Burgess in the early twentieth century for a dull, conventional person or statement — itself borrowed from the sedative chemical compound of the same name, chosen for its sleep-inducing connotations. Bromidic carries a mildly derogatory, somewhat literary tone and appears most often in criticism of public speeches, journalism, and self-help writing, where clichés flourish. It sits alongside near-synonyms like hackneyed and platitudinous, but its unusual origin gives it a distinctive flavor. For writers and speakers who want to accuse someone of empty eloquence without resorting to plainer terms like 'boring' or 'corny', bromidic is a precise and memorable choice.
adjectiveBanally predictable or trite; lacking originality or freshness of thought.
- (of speech, writing, or ideas) trite and unoriginal
"The senator's speech was a string of bromidic platitudes about hard work and family values."
"His acceptance speech was disappointingly bromidic, recycling sentiments heard at every awards ceremony."
"She winced at the bromidic advice in the self-help book."
The word traces back to a chemical sedative — a 'bromide' was literally a calming drug, so a bromidic remark is one that puts you to sleep.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of bromidic
Bromidic comes from 'bromide', which originally denoted a salt of bromine used as a sedative in the nineteenth century. The figurative sense — a dull, conventional person or remark — was popularized by American humorist Gelett Burgess in his 1906 essay 'Are You a Bromide?', drawing on the drug's reputation for inducing mental dullness. The adjective bromidic was formed from this noun, and it retains that connection to stultifying sameness. Its ultimate root is the Greek 'brōmos', meaning stench, from which the element bromine also takes its name.
How bromidic is actually used
Somewhat literary or elevated register; often used in criticism of public speaking, journalism, and writing. Mildly derogatory connotation.
Easily confused with bromidic
A 'bromide' is a chemical compound or a trite statement/person itself, while 'bromidic' is the adjective describing such statements as dull and unoriginal.