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watchword

watchword

5 7.0
A short phrase that guides a group or cause
  • noun
  • /ˈwɑːtʃwɜːrd/
translation icon : lema
  • Simplicity and order are your new watchwords.
  • become the watchword
  • new watchwords

But I'm sorry, it became the watchword for every kind of excessive woke bullshit thing.

Examples

  • The watchword of our age is "progress."

    Burke & Hare (2010)

  • These days, the watchword at Harvard is collaboration, and isn't that what today and this summit is all about?

  • In addition to freedom, the second watchword in the democratic tradition is equality.

    Academic text (1993)

  • And they came in off the financial crisis and their watchword was austerity.

  • Innovation became the watchword, and some observers confidently spoke of "the revolution in the schools."

    Academic text (2001)

  • "Inclusivity" is the watchword on campuses today.

    Academic text (2016)

  • In today's graduate programs, the watchword is professionalization; no one talks much about the life of the mind anymore.

    Academic text (2007)

  • We have always believed that we could make it in a really difficult business with two simple watchwords: 'underpromise' and 'overdeliver.'

    Fiction book (1994)

  • Consistency and fairness are watchwords in behavior modification, and these, too, are key elements in any good discipline plan.

    Academic text (1994)

  • The watchword of the environmental movement is "sustainability."

Synonyms

slogan
vswatchword
202 2.5

A short memorable phrase a group uses to express its main idea

adds the aim of encouraging people to support a cause
motto
vswatchword
153 3.0

A short phrase that shows a person or group's main belief

focuses more on uniting people or encouraging support for a cause
cry
vswatchword
110 4.9

A short phrase used to show strong support for a cause

focuses more on stating a guiding principle than on calling people to act
rallying cry
vswatchword
12 5.6

A short word or phrase that encourages people to unite and act for a cause

emphasizes guiding principle expression rather than only urging action
battle cry
vswatchword
8 3.9

A loud shout or short phrase that encourages people to act together

is used more generally to state a guiding idea rather than urging combat action
war cry
vswatchword
2 4.3

A loud shout to encourage or rally people before a battle

is broader and expresses a guiding principle beyond loud combat calls
byword
vswatchword
1 7.6

A short saying that is easy to remember and expresses a general truth

serves the same guiding idea but also aims to encourage supporters
catchword
vswatchword
1 7.6

A short word or phrase often used by a group as a slogan

is used similarly but with explicit aim to encourage people to act

How Rousing

rallying cry
12 5.6
slogan
202 2.5
watchword
5 7.0
motto
153 3.0
guideline
344 3.1

Surface Forms

watchword singular
watchwords plural

Morphology

watchword = watch + word (semi-transparent) = watch + word

The compound parts 'watch' + 'word' are visible, but the specific meaning 'slogan' is a metaphorical/generalized extension that many learners may not predict from the parts alone.

Etymology

Watchword breaks into two simple parts: watch ('guard') and word ('something said'). Imagine a guard on duty calling a single word to guide others, and that image helps explain why watchword now means a short slogan or guiding idea.