First Known Use: 1548
Dictionary
proverbial
adjective pro·ver·bi·al \prə-ˈvər-bē-əl\
: of, relating to, or resembling a proverb
: commonly spoken of : widely known
Full Definition of PROVERBIAL
1
: of, relating to, or resembling a proverb
2
: that has become a proverb or byword : commonly spoken of <the proverbial smoking gun>
— pro·ver·bi·al·ly \-ə-lē\ adverb
See proverbial defined for English-language learners
See proverbial defined for kids
ADVERTISEMENT
Examples of PROVERBIAL
- Insanity roamed through her large midwestern tribe, cloistered in proverbial dark closets in gabled houses in areas of the country where no one else lived for miles and miles … —Lynne Tillman, Motion Sickness, 1991
- I keep running across people who speak fondly about what they imagine to be the comforts of autocracy, who long for the assurances of the proverbial man on the white horse likely to do something hard and puritanical about the moral relativism that has made a mess of the cities, the schools, and prime-time television. —Lewis H. Lapham, Harper's, November 1990
- [+]more
Origin of PROVERBIAL
(see 1proverb)
PROVERBIAL Defined for Kids
proverbial
adjective pro·ver·bi·al \prə-ˈvər-bē-əl\
Definition of PROVERBIAL for Kids
1
: of a proverb <a proverbial expression>
2
: commonly spoken of <You have the proverbial beginner's luck.>
— pro·ver·bi·al·ly adverb
Learn More About PROVERBIAL
Browse
Next Word in the Dictionary: proverbialistPrevious Word in the Dictionary: pro–verbAll Words Near: proverbial
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up proverbial? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).