The quality of being overly sentimental, old-fashioned, or trying too hard to be funny in a way that feels cheesy and embarrassing.
From 'corny' (meaning trite or banal, possibly from corn as a symbol of rural simplicity) plus the suffix '-ness' to form an abstract noun. The term 'corny' itself emerged in American English around the 1930s, likely referencing unsophisticated rural or agricultural contexts.
It's fascinating that 'corny' became slang for uncool in the same era when corn was transitioning from a subsistence crop to a mass-produced commodity—as if the crop itself became associated with mainstream, mass-market mediocrity rather than rural authenticity.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.