ordinary

B1 · Intermediate

adj. not very good or interesting; plain.

adj. lacking interest or quality; often used with a slightly negative tone to suggest something is uninspired.

“The meal was quite ordinary, and I wouldn't go back to that restaurant.”

“Critics dismissed the novel as an ordinary thriller that failed to offer any new insights into the genre.”

C1 · Advanced Informal · Dialect

adj. used to describe something that is poor quality or makes you feel bad.

adj. denoting something of poor quality or an unpleasant state of affairs.

“I've been feeling a bit ordinary all morning, so I might stay home.”

“The team's performance was pretty ordinary, leading to a disappointing loss in the final minutes of the game.”

C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Law Formal · Technical

n. a person who has the power to make legal or religious decisions.

n. an officer who has immediate jurisdiction in their own right, such as a judge or a bishop.

“The case was brought before the ordinary for a final decision.”

“In ecclesiastical law, the bishop acts as the ordinary for his diocese, exercising regular jurisdiction over its members.”

C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Religion Formal · Technical

n. the parts of a church service that stay the same every time.

n. the parts of the Mass or Divine Office that do not vary from day to day.

“The choir practiced the Ordinary of the Mass for the upcoming holiday.”

“The composer focused his efforts on setting the five movements of the Ordinary, ensuring the music remained consistent throughout the liturgical year.”