motley
1 Americanadjective
-
exhibiting great diversity of elements.
a motley crowd.
- Synonyms:
- divergent, dissimilar, diversified, disparate, incongruous, sundry, assorted, mixed, diverse, varied, heterogenous
- Antonyms:
- like, similar, identical, uniform, homogeneous
-
being of different colors combined.
a motley flower border.
- Synonyms:
- polychromatic, variegated, multicolored, parti-colored, dappled, mottled, piebald, pied
- Antonyms:
- solid, monochromatic
-
wearing a parti-colored garment.
a motley fool.
noun
plural
motleys-
a combination of different colors.
-
a parti-colored effect.
-
the parti-colored garment of a jester.
-
a heterogeneous assemblage.
-
a medley.
- Synonyms:
- miscellany, jumble, hodgepodge, conglomeration, farrago, gallimaufry, pastiche, potpourri, olio
noun
adjective
-
made up of elements of varying type, quality, etc
-
multicoloured
noun
-
a motley collection or mixture
-
the particoloured attire of a jester
-
obsolete a jester
Etymology
Origin of motley
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English motele, motlay, mottelay “mixture of colors, variegated; a parti-colored garment”; of uncertain origin; perhaps akin to mote 1. See -ly ( def. )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The musicians are part of a motley crew of public figures and aid groups descending on the island by air and sea this week with medicine, water, food, solar panels and other supplies.
From Barron's • Mar. 20, 2026
José María Zuloaga gathers a motley outfit of army irregulars—it includes released Native American prisoners and a sharpshooting nun—to pursue the captive.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 5, 2026
History, by this model, offers motley warnings, reality-checks and sober inspirations for the work ahead in place of a master narrative.
From Salon • Jan. 3, 2026
Through their perspectives, black humor flows freely, as the motivations and experiences that brought this motley crew together rise to the surface.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 3, 2025
A motley pack of sixty-nine half-wild sled dogs from Canada was brought on board.
From "Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World" by Jennifer Armstrong
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
