sound bite

American  

noun

1. a brief, striking remark or statement excerpted from an audiotape or videotape for insertion in a broadcast news story.

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sound bite British  

noun

1. a short pithy sentence or phrase extracted from a longer speech for use on radio or television

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sound bite Idioms  

1. A short, striking, quotable statement well suited to a television news program. For example, He's extremely good at sound bites, but a really substantive speech is beyond him. This slangy expression, first recorded in 1980, originated in political campaigns in which candidates tried to get across a particular message or get publicity by having it picked up in newscasts.

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Etymology

Origin of sound bite

First recorded in 1985–90

Example Sentences

“Their window just went from having 30 minutes on ‘Morning Joe,’ where influencers are, to 35 seconds on a morning show or maybe a sound bite on ‘NBC Nightly News.’

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 14, 2025

Another consideration is that the Manhattan case, which is being brought by the Manhattan district attorney, Alvin Bragg, is not easily explained in a sound bite or a 30-second ad.

From New York Times • Apr. 15, 2024

"An empty slogan won't pay decent wages, false promises won't build secure homes, and a sound bite won't empower local people and local communities to take control of their futures."

From BBC • Sep. 12, 2023

She was asked to give a sound bite on this idea but just couldn’t do it.

From Slate • Jun. 17, 2023

What is a jingle but a sound bite applied to commerce?

From "Words Like Loaded Pistols" by Sam Leith

Related Words

• blurb
• clip
• excerpt
• one-liner
• quotation
• slogan
• snippet