motto
/ˈmɒtəʊ
/noun (plural mottoes or mottos)
1A short sentence or phrase chosen as encapsulating the beliefs or ideals of an individual, family, or institution: the family motto is ‘Faithful though Unfortunate’...
- His family motto epitomises the Giffards' traditional love of hunting.
- Mark and I have also developed many skills over the years so make do and mend is a bit of a family motto.
- Above a door he spots a shield with the Montgomerie family motto - ‘Guard Yourself Well’.
Synonyms
maxim, saying, proverb, aphorism, adage, saw, axiom, formula, expression, phrase, rule, dictum, precept, epigram, gnome;
slogan, catchphrase, watchword, byword, cry, battle cry;
truism, cliché, platitude
rare apophthegm
2 Music A phrase which recurs throughout a musical work and has some symbolical significance: they were developing the use of leitmotifs or mottoes that appear throughout an opera...
- Elgar rarely states the motto in full, and yet its presence haunts the entire work.
Origin
Late 16th century: from Italian, 'word'.