adj · noun · 7 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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UK:/pɹəˈvɜɹb.iː.əl/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:P R AH0 V ER1 B IY0 AH0 L
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Of, resembling, or expressed as a proverb, cliché, fable, or fairy tale.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
The busyness of a beaver is proverbial.
The beaver in this instance upheld the reputation of the proverbial one: her output was prodigious.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Optionally placed before an element of a well-known proverb or metaphor to emphasize that the element is not being used in a literal sense (see Usage notes below)
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
the proverbial smoking gun
the proverbial spilled milk
The visit was a warning shot across our proverbial bow
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adj
Meaning 3
Widely known; famous; stereotypical.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
I grew up in a prefab house on Main Street in 1950s suburbia, the second and last child of a proverbial nuclear family.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
Used to replace a word that might be considered unacceptable in a particular situation, when using a well-known phrase.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: euphemistic
Examples
I think we should be prepared in case the proverbial hits the fan.
Are you taking the proverbial?
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
The groin or the testicles.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: euphemistic, in-plural
Examples
You'll find they've got you by the proverbials.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
adjective
Meaning 6
of or relating to or resembling or expressed in a proverb
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
he kicked the proverbial bucket
the proverbial grasshopper
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
adjective satellite
Meaning 7
widely known and spoken of
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
her proverbial lateness
the proverbial absentminded professor
your proverbial dizzy blonde
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
From Latin prōverbiālis, equivalent to proverb + -ial
Across languages
Translations
36 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Belarusian:
пры́казкавы
(prýkazkavy)
— of a proverb
Bulgarian:
пословичен
(poslovičen)
— of a proverb
Czech:
příslovečný
— of a proverb
Esperanto:
proverba
— of a proverb
Finnish:
sananlaskumainen
— of a proverb
French:
proverbial
— of a proverb
German:
sprichwörtlich
— of a proverb
German:
proverbial
— of a proverb
Greek:
παροιμιακός
(paroimiakós)
— of a proverb
Italian:
proverbiale
— of a proverb
Latin:
prōverbiālis
— of a proverb
Portuguese:
proverbial
— of a proverb
Russian:
провербиа́льный
(proverbiálʹnyj)
— of a proverb
Russian:
посло́вичный
(poslóvičnyj)
— of a proverb
Spanish:
proverbial
— of a proverb
Ukrainian:
провербіа́льний
(proverbiálʹnyj)
— of a proverb
Welsh:
diarhebol
— of a proverb
Belarusian:
агу́льнавядо́мы
(ahúlʹnavjadómy)
— widely known; famous
Belarusian:
праславу́ты
(praslavúty)
— widely known; famous
Bulgarian:
общоизвестен
(obštoizvesten)
— widely known; famous
Danish:
almenkendt
— widely known; famous
Esperanto:
proverba
— widely known; famous
Finnish:
tunnettu
— widely known; famous
Finnish:
maankuulu
— widely known; famous
Finnish:
kuuluisa
— widely known; famous
French:
proverbial
— widely known; famous
German:
sprichwörtlich
— widely known; famous
Greek:
παροιμιώδης
(paroimiódis)
— widely known; famous
Italian:
proverbiale
— widely known; famous
Portuguese:
proverbial
— widely known; famous
Russian:
общеизве́стный
(obščeizvéstnyj)
— widely known; famous
Russian:
преслову́тый
(preslovútyj)
— widely known; famous
Russian:
провербиа́льный
(proverbiálʹnyj)
— widely known; famous
