motley

¹ American  

[mot-lee] / ˈmɒt li /

adjective

1. 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

2. being of different colors combined.

   a motley flower border.

   Synonyms:

   polychromatic, variegated, multicolored, parti-colored, dappled, mottled, piebald, pied

   Antonyms:

   solid, monochromatic

3. wearing a parti-colored garment.

   a motley fool.

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noun

plural

motleys

1. a combination of different colors.

2. a parti-colored effect.

3. the parti-colored garment of a jester.

4. a heterogeneous assemblage.

5. a medley.

   Synonyms:

   miscellany, jumble, hodgepodge, conglomeration, farrago, gallimaufry, pastiche, potpourri, olio

Motley ² American  

[mot-lee] / ˈmɒt li /

noun

1. John Lothrop 1814–77, U.S. historian and diplomat.

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motley British  

/ ˈmɒtlɪ /

adjective

1. made up of elements of varying type, quality, etc

2. multicoloured

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noun

1. a motley collection or mixture

2. the particoloured attire of a jester

3. 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

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

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

History, by this model, offers motley warnings, reality-checks and sober inspirations for the work ahead in place of a master narrative.

From Salon

When she and her family inevitably left town and didn’t stumble upon Charlie Brown and his motley crew, she was perplexed.

From Los Angeles Times

When my now-husband and I moved into our first apartment, we realized we had between us a motley crew: three forks, two knives, a couple spoons.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• disparate
• kaleidoscopic