byword

noun

by·​word ˈbī-ˌwərd 

1

: a proverbial saying : proverb

2

a

: one that personifies a type

b

: one that is noteworthy or notorious

3

: epithet

4

: a frequently used word or phrase

Synonyms

• adage
• aphorism
• apothegm
• epigram
• maxim
• proverb
• saw
• saying
• sententia
• word

Examples of byword in a Sentence

Mom's favorite byword is “You can get more flies with honey than with vinegar”.

nationally, Beverly Hills' Rodeo Drive has become a byword for luxury retailing

Recent Examples on the Web

Boeing has lost $33 billion since 2019 – an eye-popping number that underscores how far the company has fallen from the days when its operations were a byword for American quality. —Chris Isidore, CNN, 13 Aug. 2024

Today, the profile of this illustrious Italian paradise, a byword for Hollywood glamour, is changing. —Carley Thornell, Robb Report, 1 Aug. 2024

Shedding policies, known as depopulation, de-pop for short, or shrinking, is a byword at the insurer of last resort. —Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 26 June 2024

But the problem with such a recommendation is that patient engagement will be all the more difficult to sustain with a country that is once again a byword for oppression and human rights violations. —Sebastian Strangio, Foreign Affairs, 14 Apr. 2020

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

byword

noun

by·​word -ˌwərd 

: proverb