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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

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

From BBC • Feb. 13, 2026

And he quickly showed why when he showcased his ready-for-video, on-message approach, talking about how his poor parents moved to the U.S. and he had the ability to found billion-dollar companies.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 23, 2023

He does seem to enjoy the give and take with reporters, but he likes it far more than his on-message advisers.

From Washington Post • Jan. 19, 2022

“Tennis tastes like lean, mean athletic food,” said Richard Blais, the headlining chef, displaying the kind of on-message media training that is as sharply honed as his knives.

From New York Times • Aug. 28, 2019

Today, by contrast, the vast majority of both writers and publications have become brands that are always on-message.

From Slate • Dec. 3, 2018