motto
noun
mot·to
| \ ËmĂ€-(Ë)tĆ
\
\
plural mottoes
also mottos
Definition of motto
1
: a sentence, phrase, or word inscribed on something as appropriate to or indicative of its character or use
"The Crossroads of America" is the motto of the state of Indiana.
2
: a short expression of a guiding principle
"Hope for the best and prepare for the worst" is my motto.
Examples of motto in a Sentence
âHope for the best and prepare for the worstâ is my motto.
The Boy Scout motto is âBe prepared.â
Recent Examples on the Web
Two other decals are on the back of their helmets, each a different logo of the cityâs motto after the massacre: El Paso Strong. — Los Angeles Times, "El Paso team travels to shooterâs backyard for a game that brings unity, if not a Hollywood ending," 9 Sep. 2019 Apparently, the issue is that having Standishâs arm with the sword and the motto are offensive in that Standish is viewed as having treacherously murdered Native Americans, including Pecksuot. — BostonGlobe.com, "Should Massachusetts replace its state flag?," 7 Sep. 2019 The new motto for mindset science, then, seems to be this: tone down the hype and hone the details. — Lydia Denworth, Scientific American, "Debate Arises over Teaching âGrowth Mindsetsâ to Motivate Students," 12 Aug. 2019 According to The Capital Gazette, it's become something of a tradition for the captains of Navy's football team to choose a motto for a season. — Tom Schad, USA TODAY, "Navy football drops 'inappropriate and insensitive' team motto in wake of shooting," 3 Aug. 2019 Each bag is handmade from leather and can be customized with a name, date and motto. — Tara Paniogue, latimes.com, "Stylish life hacks for new parents," 11 July 2019 Louisiana isn't alone in requiring the motto to be displayed in public schools. — Kelly Mccleary, CNN, "'In God We Trust' signs to greet Louisiana students in new school year," 11 Aug. 2019 Let today's garbage be better than yesterdayâs, is my motto. — Ryan Asselta, SI.com, "A Quick Nine With Bryson DeChambeau," 7 Aug. 2019 Our motto is that there are no accidents, only reasons. — Anya Leon, PEOPLE.com, "American Idol Alum Josh Gracin Expecting Baby Boy with Wife Katie: We're 'Beyond Excited'," 10 July 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'motto.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for motto
motto
noun
English Language Learners Definition of motto
: a short sentence or phrase that expresses a rule guiding the behavior of a particular person or group
See the full definition for motto in the English Language Learners Dictionary
motto
noun
mot·to
| \ ËmĂ€-tĆ
\
\
plural mottoes
Kids Definition of motto
1
: a phrase or word inscribed on something (as a coin or public building) to suggest its use or nature
2
: a short expression of a guiding rule of conduct
The Boy Scout motto is âBe prepared.â
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