bon mot

noun

bōⁿ-ˈmō  ˌbän-ˈmō 

plural bons mots bōⁿ-ˈmō  bōⁿ-ˈmōz 

ˌbän-ˈmōz

or bon mots bōⁿ-ˈmō  bōⁿ-ˈmōz 

ˌbän-ˈmōz

: a clever remark : witticism

… his bons mots were being repeated … from coast to coast.

—W. J. Fisher

Examples of bon mot in a Sentence

She had a sparkling bon mot for every occasion.

Recent Examples on the Web

Early in the movie during a survey of a starry event Miranda is attending, stylist Law Roach and Chicken Shop Date host Amelia Dimoldenberg are seen tossing bon mots at fellow fabulous guests. —Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 1 May 2026

Stanley Tucci is back as Nigel, Miranda’s unfailingly loyal consigliere, who never butchers a bon mot or wears the same pocket square twice. —Justin Chang, New Yorker, 29 Apr. 2026

McKellen lands every snippy bon mot and backhanded compliment that Julian doles out, but Coel makes every crack in Lori’s facade really count, as the mystery behind her commitment to Julian unfurls. —David Sims, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026

Perhaps the solution is as simple as Miss Manners issuing a polite, but stern, PSA or a witty bon mot discouraging this practice. —Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, good word

First Known Use

1713, in the meaning defined above