ba·nal·i·ty \bāˈnaləd.ē, bə-, -ətē, -i also ba-\noun (-es) Etymology: French banalité, from banal + -ité -ity 1. a.: the quality or state of being banal < their love affairs had a tedious banality — W.S.Maugham > b.: something banal : commonplace < the banalities of our rhymed radio commercials — C.M.Fuess > 2.: a lord's right in old French law to require his vassals to use his wine press, oven, or mill