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• on-message
  on-message

  adjective

  focused on the central theme or official message of a political, business, or other organization.
• on message
  on message

  adjective

  (on-message when prenominal) adhering to or reflecting the official line of a political party, government, or other organization

on-message

American  

[on-mes-ij, awn‐] / ˈɒnˈmɛs ɪdʒ, ˈɔn‐ /

adjective

1. focused on the central theme or official message of a political, business, or other organization.

   The candidate's promises are on-message and echo the party platform. Your company’s ads should be entertaining and on-message.

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on message British  

adjective

1. (on-message when prenominal) adhering to or reflecting the official line of a political party, government, or other organization

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Etymology

Origin of on-message

First recorded in 1995–2000; on ( def. ) + message ( def. )

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

on-message on message

But Elordi seemed less on-message when I asked him whether this had really happened.

From BBC ● Feb. 13, 2026

After the event, O’Dea was likewise exhaustingly on-message taking questions from reporters.

From Slate ● Nov. 3, 2022

Kiggans, a relentlessly on-message candidate, was signaling that she cares about what voters care about.

From Washington Post ● Oct. 26, 2022

But overall, Fivio said with a politician’s on-message discipline, he is hoping to divorce drill’s distinct musical quirks from its expected subject matter.

From New York Times ● Apr. 7, 2022

It was a notably sharper tone from Harris’ typically muted and on-message public appearances, where she rarely diverts from talking points or prepared remarks.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 17, 2021

But it also means no pushing back on very bad ideas, or warning when things are going wrong, or insisting the president stay on message.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 4, 2026

The concept came about in 2019, when anonymous users on message board 4chan were asked to "post disquieting images that just feel 'off'."

From BBC ● May 29, 2026

Fans on message boards were divided over Foster’s decision to punt on fourth and one from UCLA’s 12-yard-line with 2 minutes 26 seconds left and the Bruins holding a 17-14 lead.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 15, 2024

Speaking of the Harris campaign trying to keep surrogates on message: Welcome to the campaign trail, Barack Obama, who appeared at a Pittsburgh rally for Harris this week.

From Slate ● Oct. 12, 2024

So when the king was come thither with all his baronage, and lodged as they seemed best, there was come a damosel the which was sent on message from the great lady Lile of Avelion.

From Le Mort d'Arthur: Volume 1 by Malory, Thomas, Sir