bon mot
[ bon moh; French bawn moh ]
/ ˈbɒn ˈmoʊ; French bɔ̃ ˈmoʊ /
noun, plural bons mots [bon mohz; French bawn moh] /ˈbɒn ˈmoʊz; French bɔ̃ ˈmoʊ/.
a witty remark or comment; clever saying; witticism.
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Nearby words
bon, bon ami, bon appétit, bon gré, mal gré, bon marché, bon mot, bon ton, bon vivant, bon voyage, bon, cape, bona
Can be confusedbon mot mot juste
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for bon mot
British Dictionary definitions for bon mot
bon mot
/ (French bɔ̃ mo) /
noun plural bons mots (bɔ̃ mo)
a clever and fitting remark
Word Origin for bon mot
French, literally: good word
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
Word Origin and History for bon mot
bon mot
1735, French, "good saying, " literally "good word," from bon "good" + mot (12c.), from Vulgar Latin muttum, from Latin muttire "to mutter, mumble, murmur" (see mutter).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper