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# motto

«motto» in Mova's school dictionary: **a short sentence or phrase that sums up the beliefs or…** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 3 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

### part of speech

noun (a motto, mottos or mottoes)

### meaning for a pupil

A motto is a short sentence or phrase that sums up the beliefs or aims of a person, school, family or country. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/motto/#m1)

### sense in the lessons

In school: the school motto is often on the badge, sometimes in Latin. In history: family mottos on coats of arms. In everyday life: «My motto is: always be kind.»

### examples

- Our school motto is «Learn, Grow, Shine». [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/motto/#x1)
- The Scouts' motto is «Be Prepared». [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/motto/#x2)
- Many school mottos are in Latin. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/motto/#x3)
- My grandad's motto is «Never give up». [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/motto/#x4)
- The family motto was written under the coat of arms. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/motto/#x5)
- Let's choose a motto for our team. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/motto/#x6)
- Seven at one blow is my motto," said the Tailor. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/motto/#x7)

### note

Plural: mottos or mottoes (both correct). Similar: slogan (often for adverts), maxim (wise saying).

### In the corpora

- ["Live for others!" That's my motto in life.»](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/books/30-willows-ch2-part2-the-canary-coloured-cart/43/)
- [The suffragettes' motto was Deeds not words, and their colours were purple, white and green.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/history/32-votes-for-women/9/)
- [The Salvation Army's motto of care is often put as soup, soap and salvation.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/religion-ethics/29-churches-of-the-english-speaking-world-ii/11/)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «motto» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/motto/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.