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

Wordplay, aphorisms and bon mots were Stoppard’s signature.

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Chop up two-thirds of the dialogue into bon mots and it’d make a great book of inspirational quotes, the sort of thing a thoughtful auntie would slip into a kid’s stocking at Christmas.

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Yet it’s also, via Hart’s acerbic bon mots, an incisive exploration of two opposing views of art.

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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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Related Words

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