What does cliche mean?
A cliché is a phrase, expression, or idea that has been repeated so often that it has lost its freshness, originality, and persuasive power. Common examples include stock phrases such as 'time will tell' or 'every cloud has a silver lining,' but the term extends beyond language to any predictable element in storytelling, art, music, or design — the villain who twirls his moustache, the hero who walks away from an explosion without looking back. The word comes from French, where it originally referred to a stereotype printing plate, reportedly named for the clicking sound made during its manufacture; by extension it came to denote anything mechanically reproduced and therefore unoriginal. Because clichés signal laziness or lack of imagination, describing something as clichéd is nearly always pejorative, making the word a staple of literary criticism, film reviews, and advice on good writing.
nounA phrase, expression, or idea that has been used so often that it has lost its originality or impact; more broadly, any trite or predictable element in art, writing, or thought.
- An overused phrase or expression that has lost its force through repetition.
- Any trite, hackneyed, or predictable idea, theme, image, or plot device in creative work.
"The film's plot was a string of clichés, from the meet-cute to the last-minute airport chase."
"His speech was peppered with clichés like 'at the end of the day' and 'thinking outside the box.'"
"The reviewer dismissed the novel as competent but built entirely on genre clichés."
The standard plural adds -s; in accented spelling it is written 'clichés', retaining the accent on the final syllable.
"The screenplay was riddled with clichés, from the wise mentor to the ticking clock."
Before it meant 'unoriginal,' a cliché was literally a metal printing plate — so named for the clicking sound the casting machine made.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of cliche
The word entered English from French in the nineteenth century. In French printing terminology, a 'cliché' was a stereotype — a metal plate cast from movable type so that a page or image could be printed repeatedly without resetting the type. The name is generally said to be onomatopoeic, echoing the clicking sound of the casting process. From this sense of a mechanically duplicated block, the word broadened to mean any expression or idea endlessly reproduced until it became stale, a figurative use that is now the dominant one in both French and English.
Related word forms
How cliche is actually used
Standard English style guides recommend writing the word with the acute accent ('cliché'), though the unaccented form 'cliche' is widely accepted. The plural is 'clichés'. The word carries a strongly negative connotation — calling something a cliché is almost always criticism — and it is common in both everyday speech and formal criticism.
Easily confused with cliche
'Cliché' is the noun naming the overused phrase or idea itself, while 'clichéd' is the adjective describing something as full of or characterized by clichés.
A 'clique' is a small exclusive group of people, whereas a 'cliché' is an overused expression or idea; the two merely share a French origin and similar spelling.