boilerplate

UK: /ˈbɔɪləˌpleɪt/ US: /ˈbɔɪˌlərpleɪt/ ,(boi′lər plāt′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

boil•er•plate or boil•er plate/ˈbɔɪˌlərpleɪt/   n. [uncountable]

1. Mechanical Engineering plating of iron or steel for the shells of boilers, or for covering the sides of ships, etc.:
   three-inch boilerplate on that ship.
2. Informal Terms the same phrasing used again and again to different audiences.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

boil•er•plate  (boi′lər plāt′), n. 

1. Mechanical Engineering plating of iron or steel for making the shells of boilers, covering the hulls of ships, etc.
2. Journalism
   • syndicated or ready-to-print copy, used esp. by weekly newspapers.
   • trite, hackneyed writing.
3. the detailed standard wording of a contract, warranty, etc.
4. Informal Terms phrases or units of text used repeatedly, as in correspondence produced by a word-processing system.
5. frozen, crusty, hard-packed snow, often with icy patches.

Also, boil′er plate′. 

• 1855–60

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

boilerplate / ˈbɔɪləˌpleɪt/ noun

1. a form of mild-steel plate used in the production of boiler shells
2. a copy made with the intention of making other copies from it
3. a set of instructions incorporated in several places in a computer program or a standard form of words used repeatedly in drafting contracts, guarantees, etc
4. a draft contract that can easily be modified to cover various types of transaction