Definition

1. Noun:
   • Standardized, formulaic text: Refers to sections of writing, language, or code that are reused repeatedly in multiple contexts with little or no alteration. It is often generic and lacks originality.
   • Thick, rolled steel plate: Historically, a type of strong, thick iron or steel plate used in the construction of steam boilers.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Standardized Text):
  • The contract contained several pages of legal boilerplate about jurisdiction and liability.
  • The press release was mostly boilerplate, repeating the company's standard mission statement.
  • She used a boilerplate template for the email response to save time.
• Noun (Historical/Material):
  • The old ship's engine was built from heavy boilerplate. (This usage is now less common in everyday language.)

Advanced Usage

• As a Modifier: The term is frequently used as an adjective to describe something as non-original or standard.
  • The senator gave a boilerplate answer to the controversial question.
  • The software includes boilerplate code for common functions.

Variants and Related Words

• Boilerplating (gerund/noun): The act of using or inserting standardized text or code.
  • The process involves a lot of boilerplating before you write the unique parts.

Synonyms

• Formulaic language: Text that follows a fixed pattern or formula.
• Standard text: Commonly used, non-unique writing.
• Template text: Writing that serves as a model for other documents.
• Clichéd language: Overused and predictable phrases (though more negative in connotation).

Related Phrases

• Cut-and-paste text/job: Describes work that involves little original creation, often assembling documents from pre-existing boilerplate sections.
  • Writing those reports is just a cut-and-paste job.

Notes on Meaning

The modern, predominant meaning of "boilerplate" relates to standardized, reusable text, especially in legal, corporate, journalistic, or programming contexts. The original meaning referring to the physical steel plate is largely historical or technical today. When used, it often carries a slightly negative connotation, implying a lack of specific thought or customization.

Noun

1. thick plate iron used in the production of boilers
2. standard formulations uniformly found in certain types of legal documents or news stories