garden-variety

adjective

gar·​den-va·​ri·​e·​ty ˈgär-dᵊn-və-ˈrī-ə-tē How to pronounce garden-variety (audio)
Synonyms of garden-varietynext
: ordinary, commonplace

Synonyms of garden-variety

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Examples of garden-variety in a Sentence

the once-powerful hurricane eventually abated into just a garden-variety tropical storm the bakery's extravagant creations are not your garden-variety wedding cakes
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In your garden-variety ghost story, the protagonist is generally the haunted, not the haunt, and the tales themselves are generally about how unhappy the protagonist is to find he or she is haunted. — Literary Hub, 30 Oct. 2026 The history between these men is more noxious than your garden-variety case of paternal neglect — there’s been emotional and physical abuse. — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2026 Reserve them for truly transformational philanthropy, not garden-variety alumni status. — Jayson Weingarten, Fortune, 26 Sep. 2026 Its Desert Sand paint, Rally graphics, raised rear spoiler and red brake calipers give it a decidedly more extroverted personality than the garden-variety electric crossover. — Tim Jackson, Denver Post, 26 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for garden-variety

Word History

First Known Use

1928, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of garden-variety was in 1928

Rhymes for garden-variety

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Browse Nearby Words

garden valerian
garden-variety
garden verbena
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Cite this Entry

“Garden-variety.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/garden-variety. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

garden-variety

adjective
: ordinary entry 2 sense 2, commonplace
not the flu, just a garden-variety cold
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