What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
mundane
Example
I have to do the mundane task of washing the dishes again. [mundane: adjective]
Example
Her job was so mundane that she felt like a robot doing the same thing every day. [mundane: adjective]
ordinary
Example
It's just an ordinary day at work. [ordinary: adjective]
Example
He was an ordinary man with no remarkable talents or abilities. [ordinary: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Ordinary is more commonly used than mundane in everyday language. Ordinary is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while mundane is less common and refers to a more specific type of experience.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between mundane and ordinary?
Both mundane and ordinary are neutral in terms of formality and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.