Jump To:

• 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.

---

on message British  

adjective

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

---

Etymology

Origin of on-message

First recorded in 1995–2000; on ( def. ) + message ( def. )

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

on-message on message

So it's likely that Prince Harry and Meghan will have been urged to stay on-message and remain in the background, part of the backing band rather than the centre of attention.

From BBC ● Jun. 2, 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

“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

“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

But it also means no pushing back on very bad ideas, or warning when things are going wrong, or insisting the president stay on message.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 4, 2026

"There has been so much change with England in terms of backroom staff that it is very difficult to stay on message when the message changes all the time," he said.

From BBC ● Nov. 26, 2024

In response, the Harris campaign stayed on message.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 18, 2024

Speaking of the Harris campaign trying to keep surrogates on message: Welcome to the campaign trail, Barack Obama, who appeared at a Pittsburgh rally for Harris this week.

From Slate ● Oct. 12, 2024

I thought he came on message to the king.

From The Revenge A Tragedy by Young, Edward