mot juste

American  

[moh zhyst] / moʊ ˈʒüst /

noun

French.

mots justes plural

1. the exact, appropriate word.

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mot juste British  

/ mo ʒyst /

noun

1. the appropriate word or expression

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• mots justes
  plural

Example Sentences

So the word is out, and it’s le mot juste.

From New York Times • Oct. 21, 2021

Gainsbourg is bilingual, but French is her first language; she pauses occasionally in our conversation to search around for le mot juste.

From The Guardian • Oct. 26, 2019

In January, when PhD students jostle for jobs at the annual meeting of the American Economic Association, a “market” might seem the mot juste.

From Economist • Nov. 24, 2016

Searching, like Flaubert, for le seul mot juste, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. offered “tawdry” and “distasteful” to describe McDonnell’s behavior.

From Washington Post • Jul. 1, 2016

And yet, that inner commotion was so violent, he felt a little bewildered about the mot juste.

From Grey Roses by Harland, Henry