catchword

American  

[kach-wurd] / ˈkætʃˌwɜrd /

noun

1. a memorable or effective word or phrase that is repeated so often that it becomes a slogan, as in a political campaign or in advertising a product.

2. Also called headword, guide word.  a word printed at the top of a page in a dictionary or other reference book to indicate the first or last entry or article on that page.

3. a device, used especially in old books, to assist the binder in assembling signatures by inserting at the foot of each page the first word of the following page.

4. keyword.

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catchword British  

/ ˈkætʃˌwɜːd /

noun

1. a word or phrase made temporarily popular, esp by a political campaign; slogan

2. a word printed as a running head in a reference book

3. theatre an actor's cue to speak or enter

4. the first word of a printed or typewritten page repeated at the bottom of the page preceding

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Etymology

Origin of catchword

First recorded in 1720–30; catch + word

Example Sentences

“Finlandization,” in fact, became a catchword during the Cold War for a small nation carefully moderating its security policies so as not to anger a larger, hostile neighbor.

From Washington Times • Apr. 13, 2022

I think a lot of people are jumping onto it as a catchword and making people think they have a “gee-wiz” material, like this glasses company I saw saying they have graphene in the glasses.

From The Verge • Jan. 24, 2018

“Watergate” was a catchword for a multitude of government and political sins.

From New York Times • Oct. 19, 2014

"Tempo" is a common catchword in instruction, but one that many amateur players forget about in their haste to smash the ball, says Smith.

From Golf Digest • Oct. 16, 2013

On the contrary, it was almost a catchword in California society; it was a Southern phrase, and indicated the Southerner’s attitude.

From The Life of Bret Harte With Some Account of the California Pioneers by Merwin, Henry Childs