bon mot

[bon moh, bawn moh]

noun

plural

bons mots 

1. a witty remark or comment; clever saying; witticism.

bon mot

/ bɔ̃ mo /

noun

1. a clever and fitting remark

Word History and Origins

Origin of bon mot¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of bon mot¹

French, literally: good word

Example Sentences

Most cards include cryptic, sometimes multilingual bon mots written with his beloved Sumi-e brush pens.

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Would you say you enjoy when one of these bon mots blows up?

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Nericcio is usually quick to a bon mot, but his worrisome tone when we talked was something I had never heard in the 15 years we’ve known each other.

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If you’re looking for the literary scene in New York, you may want to drop in at Elaine’s, a shadowy but cheery East Side bar where authors meet for Beaujolais and bon mots.

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Grant plays Sinclair with tremendous brio, capturing his pompousness and authority as with some bon mots about good writers "stealing" work.

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Related Words

• antic 
• farce 
• gag 
• humor 
• laugh 
• one-liner 
• parody 
• prank 
• pun 
• stunt 
• trick 
• wisecrack