noun
bromide
BROH-myd
noun
1
A chemical compound formed from bromine and another element, once used as a mild sedative.
"The old novel mentions a nurse dosing the patient with bromide to calm her nerves."
2
A dull, obvious remark or overused saying; a platitude.
"His speech was full of tired bromides about "believing in yourself.""
How to Use Bromide
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a bromine-based chemical, or, more commonly today, a stale and unoriginal remark.
Common pairings
tired bromide
stock bromide
trade in bromides
Word Forms
bromides plural
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Etymology
From "brom-" (bromine) plus "-ide." The "platitude" sense comes from American humorist Gelett Burgess, who first used "bromide" for a dull, conventional person — a nod to the compound's use as a calming, dulling sedative.