or·di·nary
ˈȯr-də-ˌner-ē 
2
3
: having or constituting immediate or original jurisdiction
also
: belonging to such jurisdiction
plural ordinaries
1
: the regular or customary condition or course of things
—usually used in the phrase out of the ordinary
We haven't done anything out of the ordinary.
2
a(1)
: a prelate exercising original jurisdiction over a specified territory or group
The ordinary of a diocese is a bishop.
(2)
: a clergyman appointed formerly in England to attend condemned criminals
b
: a judge of probate in some states of the U.S.
3
often capitalized
: the parts of the Mass that do not vary from day to day
The "Our Father" is part of the ordinary of the Mass.
4
a
British
: a meal served to all comers at a fixed price
b
chiefly British
: a tavern or eating house serving regular meals
5
: a common heraldic charge (such as the bend) of simple form (see charge entry 2 sense 7a)
Examples of ordinary in a Sentence
Adjective
They've had the ordinary problems associated with starting a new business.
My wife thought our guide was strange, but he seemed perfectly ordinary to me.
The meal was ordinary and uninspired.
Recent Examples on the Web
Katie Rife, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2025
What separates them from ordinary companies isn’t better strategy.
—Big Think, 29 Oct. 2025
Noel Burgess, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025
The couple have often walked red carpets together, so it certainly wouldn’t be considered out of the ordinary for the 37-year-old to walk the Golden Globes red carpet alongside her beau as his plus-one.
—Sam Reed, Glamour, 4 Jan. 2025
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Adjective
The film also birthed one of the best horror heroines in the genre's history in the form of Angela (Manuela Velasco), a TV reporter on a seemingly ordinary assignment following a group of firefighters on a night call at a Barcelona apartment building.
—Katie Rife, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2025
What separates them from ordinary companies isn’t better strategy.
—Big Think, 29 Oct. 2025
Noun
Alila Napa Valley goes beyond the ordinary by offering unforgettable experiences designed to captivate modern travelers, especially Xennials.
—Noel Burgess, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025
The couple have often walked red carpets together, so it certainly wouldn’t be considered out of the ordinary for the 37-year-old to walk the Golden Globes red carpet alongside her beau as his plus-one.
—Sam Reed, Glamour, 4 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ordinary
Cite this Entry
“Ordinary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ordinary. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ordinary
1 of 2 noun
or·di·nary
ˈȯrd-ᵊn-ˌer-ē
plural ordinaries
1
: regular or usual condition or course of things
nothing out of the ordinary
2
a
British
: a meal served to any person at a fixed price
b
chiefly British
: a restaurant serving regular meals
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