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Synonyms

bon mot

American  
[bon moh, bawn moh] / ˈbɒn ˈmoʊ, bɔ̃ ˈmoʊ /

noun

  • bons mots
    plural
  1. a witty remark or comment; clever saying; witticism.


bon mot British  
/ bɔ̃ mo /

noun

  1. a clever and fitting remark

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

Etymology

Origin of bon mot

1725–35; < French: literally, good word; see boon 2, motto

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.

See Examples For:

When he realized whence I’d lifted the dinner party bon mot, he gave me grief for my cheaply bought erudition.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026

The bizarre situation elicits Patroclus' zesty bon mot: "What a spring the man has! Nice dive! Think of the oysters he could come up with if he were out at sea …"

From Salon ● Nov. 27, 2021

Keynes’s bon mot has a sting in its tail: We can afford anything we can actually do.

From New York Times ● Sep. 1, 2021

It’s a typical Welles bon mot, blustery and witty and egocentric.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 6, 2021

He jotted down this bon mot with his pencil nub.

From "The Hidden Gallery" by Maryrose Wood

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