motto
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
Motto, slogan, maxim, and proverb all refer to short, memorable phrases, but their purposes differ. A motto expresses a deliberate guiding principle chosen by a specific person or group — for example, a school adopting 'Knowledge is Power' as its permanent motto. A slogan, by contrast, is a temporary phrase used in advertising or political campaigns to promote a product or idea; it changes with each campaign and aims to persuade rather than to guide long-term behaviour. A maxim is a formal statement of a general truth, often framed as advice, such as 'A penny saved is a penny earned.' A proverb is a traditional saying passed down within a culture, like 'Don't count your chickens before they hatch' — it belongs to a whole community, not to a single owner. In short: a motto is chosen; a slogan is marketed; a maxim is reasoned; a proverb is inherited.
Common collocations
Nouns
- school motto
- family motto
- team motto
- company motto
Phrases
- have a motto
- adopt a motto
- choose as one's motto
- live by a motto
- make something one's motto
Prepositions
- motto of
- motto for
Etymology
The word motto entered English in the late 1500s from Italian, where it meant 'word' or 'saying.' The Italian term came from Latin muttum, meaning 'a sound' or 'an utterance,' itself from the verb muttire ('to mutter' or 'to murmur'). Early uses referred to short sayings inscribed on coins or coats of arms; over time the meaning broadened to any guiding principle a person or group adopts.