adage means an old saying which has obtained credit by long use.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, adage ranks #7,084 of 14,414 for Most Elegant Words, #7,127 of 14,431 for Most Betrayed by Its Sound, #7,152 of 14,445 for Most Beautiful Words, #7,180 of 14,444 for Most Exacting Words.
adage is pronounced /ˈæd.ɪd͡ʒ/.
Why “adage” is a great word
A concise, traditional saying expressing a perceived truth or general observation, often metaphorical and passed down through long use. From the Latin adāgium ("proverb, saying"), borrowed into Middle French as adage in the 16th century. Unlike "cliché," which denotes an overused and hollowed phrase, or "aphorism," which is a sharp, original point of polished wit, an adage draws its quiet power from anonymity and the sediment of ages. It is the grandmother's warning that stillness invites mischief, the farmer's certainty about red skies at morning, the sailor's respect for any port in a storm—each phrase heavy with the accumulated weight of survival. It is the humble, weathered map we inherit for a world whose contours never really change.
Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French adage, from Latin adā̆gium.
noun
- An old saying which has obtained credit by long use.“According to an old adage, oysters are best in months containing the letter R.”
- An old saying which has been overused or considered a cliché; a trite maxim.“Like the poore Cat i’ th’ Addage.”
Words closest in meaning
By meaning, not spelling — each word's AI semantic fingerprint, nearest first.
- aphorism 87% match — A concise expression of a principle in an area of knowledge; an axiom, a precept. vs adage →
- platitude 87% match — An often-quoted saying that is supposed to be meaningful but has become unoriginal or hackneyed through overuse. vs adage →
- apothegm 87% match — A short, witty, instructive saying; an aphorism or maxim. vs adage →
- dictum 86% match — An authoritative statement; a dogmatic saying; a maxim, an apothegm. vs adage →
- byword 85% match — A proverb or proverbial expression, common saying; a frequently used word or phrase. vs adage →
- bon mot 84% match — A clever saying, phrase, or witticism; often, a witty riposte in dialogue. vs adage →
- allusion 83% match — An indirect reference; a hint; a reference to something supposed to be known, but not explicitly mentioned. vs adage →
- simile 83% match — A figure of speech in which one thing is explicitly compared to another, using e.g. like or as. vs adage →