What does "boilerplate" mean?
A sheet of copper or steel used in the construction of a boiler.
Boilerplate
adj, noun, verb
adj, noun, verb ·3 syllables ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A sheet of copper or steel used in the construction of a boiler.
- Grammar: boilerplate is listed as adj, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: cliche, cliché, formulaic, formulaic text.
- Useful contrasts: creative, custom code, custom language.
- Usage evidence: You have to click through reams of legal boilerplate to sign up for any web site, these days.
How to use "boilerplate"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "boilerplate" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "boilerplate" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "boilerplate" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "boilerplate" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "boilerplate" is acting as adj, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "cliche" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "boilerplate", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A sheet of copper or steel used in the construction of a boiler. countable, uncountable
- 2 thick plate iron used in the production of boilers wordnet
- 3 The rating plate or nameplate required to be affixed to a boiler by the Boiler Explosions Act (1882). UK, countable, uncountable
- 4 standard formulations uniformly found in certain types of legal documents or news stories wordnet
- 5 A plate attached to industrial machinery, identifying information such as manufacturer, model number, serial number, and power requirements. countable, uncountable
Show 5 more definitions
- 6 Syndicated material. countable, uncountable
"[…] they have neither the responsibility nor the inclination to cover the real news of the community and consequently have little editorial expense, relying on handouts and cheap boilerplate materials to fill up the spots where they have no ads."
- 7 Standard text of a legal or official nature added to documents or labels. countable, uncountable
"They put that boilerplate on all the warning labels."
- 8 A standard piece of program code used routinely and added with a text editor or word processor. countable, uncountable
- 9 Formulaic or hackneyed language. countable, uncountable
- 10 Hard, icy snow which may be dangerous for skiing. countable, uncountable
Verb
- 1 To store standard text so that it can easily be retrieved for reuse. transitive
"Any text that you have reason to use more than once can be boilerplated by simply tucking it away in a file (on disk) […]"
Adjective
- 1 Describing text or other material of a standard or routine nature. not-comparable
"The contract contained all the usual boilerplate clauses."
- 2 Used to refer to a non-functional spacecraft used to test configuration and procedures. not-comparable
"A boilerplate spacecraft was used to test the rocket."
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"You have to click through reams of legal boilerplate to sign up for any web site, these days."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "boilerplate"?
Common synonyms include: cliche, cliché, formulaic, formulaic text, generic, legal-code language.
How do you use "boilerplate" in a sentence?
You have to click through reams of legal boilerplate to sign up for any web site, these days.
Etymology
From boiler + plate. First use appears c. 1793 in the periodical Star.