Insipid comes from the Latin insipidus, the opposite of sapidus which means flavorful. Because spices and salts are left out, hospital food is usually considered insipid. The most common use of the word is in a metaphorical sense for dull or flat. 

Some common synonyms of insipid are banal, flat, inane, jejune, and vapid. While all these words mean "devoid of qualities that make for spirit and character," insipid implies a lack of sufficient taste or savor to please or interest. 

insipid implies a lack of sufficient taste or savor to please or interest. vapid suggests a lack of liveliness, force, or spirit.

Insipid was first used in English during the early 17th century.  The word insipid was first used in English in the early 1600s. The earliest known use of the word was in 1620 by Tobias Venner, a physician and medical writer. 

Examples of insipid: 

• "a thin, insipid soup was placed before us"
• "airline food used to be bland and insipid"
• "the walls were painted an insipid beige"
• "mugs of insipid coffee"

I am so tempted to write an insipid comment about this word of the day. Oops it looks like I just did.

Just the facts:

Insipid Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster