on-message

[ on-mes-ij, awn‐ ]

/ ˈɒnˈmɛs ɪdʒ, ˈɔn‐ /

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adjective

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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Compare off-message.

Origin of on-message

First recorded in 1995–2000; on + message

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use on-message in a sentence

Just the hard-on before you shoot unarmed members of the public.
'Babylon' Review: The Dumb Lives of Trigger-Happy Cops|Melissa Leon|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Three on-the-record stories from a family: a mother and her daughters who came from Phoenix.
I Tried to Warn You About Sleazy Billionaire Jeffrey Epstein in 2003|Vicky Ward|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
You just travel light with carry-on luggage, go to cities that you love, and get to hang out with all your friends.
Coffee Talk with Fred Armisen: On ‘Portlandia,’ Meeting Obama, and Taylor Swift’s Greatness|Marlow Stern|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
It was a brick wall that we turned into the on-ramp of a highway.
Coffee Talk with Fred Armisen: On ‘Portlandia,’ Meeting Obama, and Taylor Swift’s Greatness|Marlow Stern|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST

Could the (thus far) timid trembling give way to a full-on, grand mal seizure?
26 Earthquakes Later, Fracking’s Smoking Gun Is in Texas|James Joiner|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
His head fell back limp on MacRae's arm, and the rest of the message went with the game old Dutchman across the big divide.
Raw Gold|Bertrand W. Sinclair
We were interrupted at this moment by a message from General Houston, to whom we immediately hastened.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXXIX. January, 1844. Vol. LV.|Various
"It will go through, if I live," calmly replied Harry, as he carefully concealed the message in the lining of his coat.
The Courier of the Ozarks|Byron A. Dunn
In the telegraph office a young signaler was sending a thrilling message to Umballa, Lahore and the north.
The Red Year|Louis Tracy
Aristide again sought the message of the stars; but the sky was clouded over, and soon a fine rain began to fall.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol|William J. Locke

British Dictionary definitions for on-message

on message

adjective

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012