cliché

/ˈkliː.ʃeɪ/ French Origin Language

Original Word

cliché

French

Entered English

Late 19th century

First recorded usage in English

The Story Behind "cliché"

From French 'cliché', originally a printing term for a stereotype plate that reproduced the same image repeatedly. By the late 19th century, it came to mean an overused phrase or idea.

Example Usage

"The movie was full of tired clichés and predictable plot twists."

All French Loanwords Look Up in Dictionary

More French Loanwords

naive — naïve Language · 17th century voilà — voilà Language · 18th century façade — façade Language · 17th century critique — critique Language · 17th century déjà vu — déjà-vu Psychology · Early 20th century entrepreneur — entrepreneur Business · 19th century fiancé — fiancé Culture · 19th century café — café Food & Drink · 19th century