cliché

Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word cliché. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word cliché, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say cliché in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word cliché you have here. The definition of the word cliché will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition ofcliché, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
See also: Cliché, cliche, clichê, and cliche'

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

Borrowed from French cliché.

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈkliːʃeɪ/
  • Rhymes: -iːʃeɪ
  • (US) enPR: klē-shāʹ, IPA(key): /kliˈʃeɪ/
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Rhymes: -eɪ
  • Hyphenation: cli‧ché

Noun

English Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia

cliché (plural clichés)

  1. Something, most often a phrase or expression, that is overused or used outside its original context, so that its original impact and meaning are lost. A trite saying; a platitude.
    Synonyms: platitude, stereotype; see also Thesaurus:saying
    The villain kidnapping the love interest in a film is a bit of a cliché.
    I know it's a bit of a cliché, but love really does conquer all.
    • 2003, “The Package”, performed by A Perfect Circle:
      Clever got me this far
      Then tricky got me in
      Eye on what I'm after
      I don't need another friend
      Smile and drop the cliche
      Till you think I'm listening
      Take just what I came for
      Then I'm out the door again
    • 2023, “Remember All The Girls”, performed by The Sherlocks:
      Don’t believe what they’re saying everything’s is gonna change How could it be ever the same? It’s just a cliché fading Till we go our separate ways
  2. (printing) A stereotype (printing plate).

Usage notes

  • The alternative spelling cliche may be used without confusion, as there is no other word in English with this spelling. (Contrast résumé, resumé.)

Derived terms

Translations

Adjective

cliché (comparative more cliché, superlative most cliché)

  1. (proscribed) clichéd; having the characteristics of a cliché

Verb

cliché (third-person singular simple present clichés, present participle clichéing, simple past and past participle clichéd or (rare) clichéed)

  1. (transitive, intransitive) To use a cliché; to make up a word or a name that sounds like a cliché.
    • 2015, Shonda Rhimes, Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand In the Sun and Be Your Own Person:
      He clichéd at me. He clichéd at me in a perky, condescending tone.

Anagrams

Dutch

Etymology

Borrowed from French cliché.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /kliˈʃeː/
  • Audio:(file)
  • Hyphenation: cli‧ché
  • Rhymes: -eː

Noun

cliché n (plural clichés, diminutive clicheetje n)

  1. a cliché
  2. an unoriginal work
  3. a printing plate, a stereotype

Derived terms

Descendants

  • Afrikaans: cliché
  • Indonesian: klise

French

Etymology

Past participle of clicher (to stereotype, (originally) to copy, literally to click, clink), from Middle French clicher, from Old French cliquer (to click, clack, sound, resound), of Germanic origin, related to Dutch klikken (to click, rattle), Low German klikken (to click), German klicken (to click), Danish klikke (to click), Swedish klicka (to click). Probably onomatopoeic, and probably influenced by Middle High German klitsch (soft, pulpy mass), from the old technique of creating a printing plate. More at click.

Pronunciation

Noun

cliché m (plural clichés)

  1. (printing) stereotype (printing plate)
    La reproduction dans la presse de dessins et de photographies se fait au moyen de clichés typographiques.
    The reproduction in the press of drawings and photographs is done by means of typographical clichés.
  2. (photography) negative
  3. (by extension) snapshot
    prendre un clichétake a snapshot
  4. (figurative) cliché; stereotype (overused phrase or expression)
    Synonyms: banalité, idée reçue, lieu commun, stéréotype

Descendants

Further reading

Italian

Alternative forms

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from French cliché.

Pronunciation

Noun

cliché m (invariable)

  1. plate (printing)
  2. cliché

References

  1. ^ cliché in Luciano Canepari, Dizionario di Pronuncia Italiana (DiPI)

Anagrams

Polish

Polish Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia pl

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from French cliché. Doublet of klisza.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /kliˈʂɛ/
  • Audio:(file)
  • Rhymes:
  • Syllabification: cli‧ché

Noun

cliché n (indeclinable)

  1. (literary, rhetoric) cliché (overused phrase or expression)
    Synonyms: klisza, szablon

Further reading

  • cliché in Polish dictionaries at PWN

Spanish

Spanish Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia es

Alternative forms

Etymology

Borrowed from French cliché.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /kliˈt͡ʃe/
  • IPA(key): /kliˈʃe/
  • Rhymes: -e
  • Syllabification: cli‧ché

Noun

cliché m (plural clichés)

  1. (printing) cliché
  2. (talking) cliché
    Synonym: tópico

Further reading

Anagrams