battle cry
Americannoun
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a cry or shout of troops in battle.
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the phrase or slogan used in any contest or campaign.
noun
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a shout uttered by soldiers going into battle
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a slogan used to rally the supporters of a campaign, movement, etc
Etymology
Origin of battle cry
First recorded in 1805–15
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
When one chase scene halts as the stop-motion pursuers squabble about their battle cry, the evident labor in the aside elbows us to run with the idea that movements sabotage themselves.
From Los Angeles Times • May 21, 2026
"You have no idea the fire that you have ignited within this wife, the cries of this widow will echo around the world like a battle cry," she said.
From BBC • Sep. 13, 2025
In today’s real-world context, Mr. Kerry’s battle cry is silly and self-destructive.
From Washington Times • Dec. 26, 2023
Blue is a University of Michigan color, and “Go Blue!” is a battle cry and common salutation among Wolverine fans.
From Seattle Times • Dec. 1, 2023
Every graduate of Lincoln Elementary School for the past thirty-five years could remember standing at that table listening to Mrs. Granger’s battle cry: “Look it up. That’s why we have the dictionary.”
From "Frindle" by Andrew Clements
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
