proverb

American  

[prov-erb] / ˈprɒv ərb /

noun

1. a short popular saying, usually of unknown and ancient origin, that expresses effectively some commonplace truth or useful thought; adage; saw.

   Synonyms:

   apothegm, aphorism

2. a wise saying or precept; a didactic sentence.

3. a person or thing that is commonly regarded as an embodiment or representation of some quality; byword.

4. Bible. a profound saying, maxim, or oracular utterance requiring interpretation.

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verb (used with object)

1. to utter in the form of a proverb.

2. to make (something) the subject of a proverb.

3. to make a byword of.

proverb British  

/ ˈprɒvɜːb /

noun

1. a short, memorable, and often highly condensed saying embodying, esp with bold imagery, some commonplace fact or experience

2. a person or thing exemplary in respect of a characteristic

   Antarctica is a proverb for extreme cold

3. ecclesiast a wise saying or admonition providing guidance

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verb

1. to utter or describe (something) in the form of a proverb

2. to make (something) a proverb

proverb Cultural  

1. A brief, memorable saying that expresses a truth or belief, such as “A friend in need is a friend indeed.” (See examples under “Proverbs.”)

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Related Words

Proverb, maxim are terms for short, pithy sayings. A proverb is such a saying popularly known and repeated, usually expressing simply and concretely, though often metaphorically, a truth based on common sense or the practical experience of humankind: “A stitch in time saves nine.” A maxim is a brief statement of a general and practical truth, especially one that serves as a rule of conduct or a precept: “It is wise to risk no more than one can afford to lose.”

Other Word Forms

• proverblike adjective

Etymology

Origin of proverb

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English proverbe, from Middle French, from Latin prōverbium “adage,” equivalent to prō- pro- ¹ + verb(um) word + -ium -ium

Explanation

If your Aunt Nellie is fond of sayings like "All's well that ends well," and "A penny saved is a penny earned," then she's a proverb expert. A proverb is a short, catchy phrase that expresses a true or useful idea. Most proverbs have been around long enough, and endlessly repeated, that they are commonly seen as telling an important truth. People tend to use proverbs to give advice, the way you might say "practice makes perfect" to encourage your little brother to keep trying when he's learning to ride a bike. The Latin root proverbium combines the prefix pro with verbium, which together mean a word that you put forward, or a common saying.

Example Sentences

But if you invest for the long term, recognize that the economic sectors poised to grow more than average are those that help people become, as the old proverb has it, healthy, wealthy and wise.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 27, 2026

"There's an African proverb that says, 'If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together' and so my desire is to go far and together."

From BBC • Jan. 28, 2026

Isaiah Berlin, drawing on an ancient Greek proverb, famously observed that Leo Tolstoy was a foxlike writer who knew many things but longed to be someone who, like the hedgehog, knew one big thing.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 21, 2025

"There's an African proverb that says: 'When the elephants fight, it's the grass that suffers,'" the employee said.

From Barron's • Nov. 14, 2025

The view reminded me of the Haitian proverb “Beyond mountains there are mountains,” which meant that when you’d solved one problem, you couldn’t rest because you had to go on and solve the next.

From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French

Related Words

• adage
• aphorism
• axiom
• dictum
• epigram
• maxim
• witticism