motto

 
Pronunciation: /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’
  • 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

Origin:

late 16th century: from Italian, 'word'

Spelling help

The plural of motto can be spelled either mottoes or mottos.