E pluribus unum

9.8

A motto meaning 'out of many, one' used by the United States to show unity

idiom
/i ˈplʊərɪbəs ˈjunəm/

Formal

: E pluribus unum

E pluribus unum, the motto of the United States, means "Out of many, one," but the one is a wholly different kind of entity from the many, especially since the melting pot became a microwave.

Examples

The motto E pluribus unum appears on many U.S. coins, emphasizing the concept of unity from diversity.
Even our national motto, E pluribus unum, says "Out of many, one," exalting the singular and implying that we need to eliminate our diversity.

Academic text (1996)
The phrase E pluribus unum reflects the idea that many individuals can unite to form a single nation.
Many people think of E pluribus unum as a symbol of American unity among diverse cultures.

Synonyms

unity

vsE pluribus unum

217 2.8

People or parts joined and acting as one

focuses on forming one from many diverse parts

unitedness

vsE pluribus unum

7.0

A feeling of being joined and acting together as one group

emphasizes forming one out of separate groups or people

unicity

vsE pluribus unum

9.6

Being one whole with no separate parts

highlights becoming one from many different parts rather than abstract oneness

Surface Forms

E pluribus unum main

Morphology

E + pluribus + unum

This is a Latin motto whose constituents are not English words, so a B1 English learner who knows English vocabulary cannot compose the meaning from the listed parts. Understanding 'E pluribus unum' requires knowledge of Latin or prior exposure/translation rather than transparent English composition, so it functions as an opaque fixed expression for typical learners.

Etymology

The phrase E pluribus unum is an old Latin saying that literally puts together pluribus ('many') and unum ('one'), creating the image of many parts joining into one. So it became a motto meaning 'out of many, one' to show that different people or states make one nation.