prose

prose — noun

1. Language built from ordinary sentences and paragraphs that follow the natural rh

1.nounB2
Definition

Language built from ordinary sentences and paragraphs that follow the natural rhythms people use when they talk — in contrast to the regular metre and rhyme found in poetry.

Example

Charlotte's writing course required her to submit at least three pages of prose every week.

The novelist is admired for her clear, flowing prose that reads like natural conversation.

collocation: flowing prose / clear prose

Common collocations
  • prose style
  • prose writing
  • prose piece
  • clear prose
  • flowing prose
  • elegant prose
  • modern prose
Synonyms
  • writing

    broader term that includes poetry, drama, and non-fiction

  • composition

    more formal; often used in educational settings

  • text

    refers to the actual written words rather than the literary form

  • narrative

    specifically refers to prose that tells a story

Antonyms
  • poetry

    literary form with metre, rhythm, and often rhyme

  • verse

    a line of poetry or a stanza

Grammar Patterns

prose + noun (attributive use)

Common Mistakes

I wrote a poem in prose form.
I wrote a piece of prose.
'Prose' is the category (not poetry), not a form a poem can take.
She has many proses in her notebook.
She has many pieces of prose in her notebook.
Prose is usually uncountable.

2. A flat, uninspired quality in written or spoken language — expression that is so

2.nounC1
Definition

A flat, uninspired quality in written or spoken language — expression that is so plain and ordinary that it becomes boring or lifeless.

Example

The critic said the novel suffered from lifeless prose that failed to move the reader.

Beatrix found the paper's prose so dry that she read each sentence twice.

Common collocations
  • lifeless prose
  • colourless prose
  • heavy prose
  • dry prose
  • flat prose
Synonyms
  • banality

    more emphatic; suggests extreme ordinariness

  • platitude

    a trite or obvious remark, not a general style

  • ordinariness

    less negative; describes lack of special qualities

Antonyms
  • eloquence

    fluent, persuasive, and powerful expression

  • vividness

    lively and richly detailed expression

Common Mistakes

His speech was full of prose.
His speech was full of dull prose / prosaic language.
'Prose' alone does not carry a negative meaning; context or modifiers are needed.

prose — adjective

prose — verb

Word family

  • prosaic
    adjectiveC1
  • prosaically
    adverbC1
  • proser
    nounC2
  • prosaist
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words refer to something written, but they differ in scope and context. 'Prose' is the most specific — it names a literary form that contrasts with poetry, defined by its use of ordinary sentence structures. 'Writing' is the broadest term, covering everything from a shopping list to a novel. 'Composition' is more formal and often tied to educational settings — teachers assign prose compositions, but native speakers rarely call a published novel 'a composition'. 'Text' focuses on the actual words on the page, regardless of literary genre: a poem, a legal contract, and a novel are all text. Use 'prose' when the contrast with verse matters ('Shakespeare wrote both poetry and prose'), 'writing' for general contexts ('I enjoy creative writing'), 'composition' in academic or formal exercises ('a 500-word prose composition'), and 'text' when referring to specific wording ('the original text of the speech').

prose ↗writing ↗composition ↗text ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • in prose
  • prose and poetry
  • prose versus poetry

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

The word 'prose' comes from the Latin phrase 'prosa oratio', meaning 'straightforward speech' — language that moves forward in a direct line, unlike verse that follows a patterned rhythm. The Latin 'prosa' was shortened from 'prorsa', a feminine form of 'prorsus' meaning 'straight ahead' or 'direct'. It entered English through Old French in the 14th century, initially referring to any non-metrical writing. The meaning expanded over time from 'ordinary language' to include the sense of 'dull or unimaginative expression' by the 18th century.