English Reference
adjective

bland

adj.
US /ˈbɫænd/ UK /blˈænd/ bland

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate Cooking

    having very little taste or flavor; not spicy or exciting to eat.

    lacking strong features or characteristics and therefore uninteresting; specifically applied to food that is unseasoned or mild.

    Simple

    The soup was a bit bland, so I added some salt and pepper.

    In context

    Patients on the recovery ward are often restricted to a bland diet to avoid irritating the digestive system during the initial healing phase.

    tastelessinsipidflavorless
    flavorfulspicytasty
  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate

    boring and not having any strong or interesting qualities.

    lacking in vigor, excitement, or distinctive character; dull and unstimulating.

    Simple

    The office building had a bland design that looked like every other block.

    In context

    Critics dismissed the sequel as a bland imitation of the original, noting its failure to capture the vibrant energy of the first film.

    dulluninspiringtedious
  3. 03 C1 Advanced Formal

    showing no strong emotions or interesting personality traits.

    showing no strong emotion; pleasantly gentle but lacking in character or interest.

    Simple

    He gave a bland smile and refused to answer any of the difficult questions.

    In context

    The diplomat maintained a bland expression throughout the interrogation, revealing nothing of his true feelings regarding the proposed treaty.

    mildunemotionalnondescript
This entry
Level B1 · Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated