noun · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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/ˈblændˌnɪs/
Australian:/ˈblæːndˌnəs/
Australian:[ble̞ːnd̚.nəs]
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:B L AE1 N D N AH0 S
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
The state, quality, or characteristic of being bland.
Mildness, gentleness.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, obsolete, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
The state, quality, or characteristic of being bland.
Lack of taste or flavor.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: flavorlessness
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
The state, quality, or characteristic of being bland.
Lack of interest or appeal.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: dullness, insipidness
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
the trait of exhibiting no personal embarrassment or concern
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
the blandness of his confession enraged the judge
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: unemotionality, emotionlessness
5
noun
Meaning 5
the quality of being bland and gracious or ingratiating in manner
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: suavity, suaveness, smoothness
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: graciousness
6
noun
Meaning 6
lacking any distinctive or interesting taste property
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: insipidity, insipidness
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: unappetizingness, unappetisingness
History
Etymology
Etymology tree English bland Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English blandness From bland + -ness.
Across languages
Translations
21 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Catalan:
insipidesa
— lack of taste or flavor
Catalan:
insipiditat
— lack of taste or flavor
Finnish:
mauttomuus
— lack of taste or flavor
French:
insipidité
— lack of taste or flavor
Galician:
insipidez
— lack of taste or flavor
Italian:
insipidezza
— lack of taste or flavor
Portuguese:
insipidez
— lack of taste or flavor
Spanish:
insipidez
— lack of taste or flavor
Spanish:
sinsabor
— lack of taste or flavor
Ottoman Turkish:
طاتسزلق
(tatsızlık)
— lack of taste or flavor
Ottoman Turkish:
لذتسزلك
(lezzetsizlik)
— lack of taste or flavor
Ottoman Turkish:
یاوانلق
(yavanlık)
— lack of taste or flavor
Finnish:
latteus
— lack of interest or appeal
French:
insipidité
— lack of interest or appeal
Galician:
insipidez
— lack of interest or appeal
Italian:
insipidezza
— lack of interest or appeal
Polish:
nijakość
— lack of interest or appeal
Polish:
bezbarwność
— lack of interest or appeal
Polish:
bezpłciowość
— lack of interest or appeal
Portuguese:
insipidez
— lack of interest or appeal