Pressure and freedom are commonplace (9)
I believe the answer is:
platitude
'commonplace' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'pressure and freedom' is the wordplay.
'pressure' becomes 'p' (scientific abbreviation).
'and' says to put letters next to each other.
'freedom' becomes 'latitude' (latitude is a kind of freedom).
'p'+'latitude'='PLATITUDE'
'are' is the link.
(Other definitions for platitude that I've seen before include "bromide" , "Trite remark made as if it were important." , "Empty remark" , "Trite saying" , "Cliche" .)