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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. )

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

on-message on message

After the event, O’Dea was likewise exhaustingly on-message taking questions from reporters.

From Slate ● Nov. 3, 2022

But overall, Fivio said with a politician’s on-message discipline, he is hoping to divorce drill’s distinct musical quirks from its expected subject matter.

From New York Times ● Apr. 7, 2022

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

Mr Kast, though, stayed on-message at his closing rally.

From BBC ● Dec. 18, 2021

“What matters in Iowa is that she’s here, she’s on-message and her campaign is making their goals in terms of contacts, precinct captains. The nuts and bolts need to work,” he said.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 2, 2019

In Michigan, it went on like that: on message.

From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2026

If the discussion keeps going in circles, outline the objectives to keep people on message.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 18, 2026

After the speech, Mr. Hegseth stayed on message, delivering coherent and well-informed answers to questioners from large and small powers across the region.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 1, 2026

Originating on message boards in the early 2000s, the memes, dubbed "Chuck Norris facts", became a genre of their own by the 2010s.

From BBC ● Mar. 20, 2026

So when the king was come thither with all his baronage, and lodged as they seemed best, there was come a damosel the which was sent on message from the great lady Lile of Avelion.

From Le Mort d'Arthur: Volume 1 by Sir Thomas Malory

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