boilerplate
BOY-ler-playt
/ˈbɔɪlərpleɪt/
Standardized, reusable text, formulas, or code that can be copied and pasted into documents or programs with minimal changes.
Often used to describe the standard legal language at the end of contracts, or the standard 'About Us' paragraph at the bottom of a press release.
The story behind the word. In the 19th century, literal steam boilers were built using heavy, standardized plates of rolled steel. In the early 20th century, printing syndicates distributed pre-cast metal plates containing columns of news or advertisements to local newspapers. Because these plates were heavy and unchangeable, editors called them 'boilerplates'. The term eventually came to mean any unchangeable, standardized text.
Word relationships
- template: A template is a master document or pattern to be filled in, while boilerplate is the actual, pre-written text itself.
- cliché: A cliché is an overused, unoriginal phrase in creative writing, whereas boilerplate is useful, standardized text in professional documents.
- bespoke: Bespoke means custom-made or tailored specifically for a particular user or situation.
- original: Original text is created from scratch and is unique to that specific document.
Commonly confused with
- boiler room: A boiler room is a high-pressure outbound call center, while boilerplate is standardized text.
Collocations
- boilerplate contract
- boilerplate language
- boilerplate code
- standard boilerplate
Example sentences
- "Don't spend hours writing the liability clause; just use the standard boilerplate from our template folder." A lawyer drafting a contract.
- "Modern web frameworks generate a lot of boilerplate code, allowing developers to focus on writing custom logic." A software engineering guide.
Memory hook
Imagine a heavy steel plate on a steam boiler—it is rigid, unyielding, and looks exactly like every other plate on the machine. Rigid, pre-cast steel plates that cannot be changed.
When not to use
Do not use it to describe creative, highly customized, or unique writing.
Fun facts
- In legal disputes, boilerplate clauses (like 'Force Majeure' or 'Governing Law') are often ignored during negotiations but can make or break a lawsuit.
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