sound-bite

1 of 2

adjective

: containing or characterized by sound bites
sound-bite politics

sound bite

2 of 2

noun

: a brief recorded statement (as by a public figure) broadcast especially on a television news program
also : a brief catchy comment or saying

Examples of sound-bite in a Sentence

Noun His campaign relies on catchy sound bites.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Part of Disney’s challenge involves the sound-bite nature of the campaign trail. Brooks Barnes, New York Times, 3 July 2023 Scott’s earnest, if sound-bite heavy, optimism and DeSantis’ dogged, if charmless, record of substantive and political wins would both contrast with a Trump 2024 campaign focused on his personal grievances and political retribution. Patrick T. Brown, CNN, 11 Apr. 2023
Noun
Others talked evasively about Marley, using only trite, unhelpful sound bites. Rob Tannenbaum, New York Times, 16 Feb. 2024 The often-redundant and sometimes off-topic inquiries veered along party talking points, with the lawmakers attempting to coax splashy sound bites from Hur, a taciturn former prosecutor and top Justice Department official. Devlin Barrett, Washington Post, 12 Mar. 2024 The subject is full of dense and wonky material that gets litigated through binder-thick planning reports instead of sound bites. Conor Dougherty, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2024 Have one sound bite in your back pocket — a 10- to 15-second message that is crisp and catchy. Rolling Stone Culture Council, Rolling Stone, 3 Jan. 2024 Typically, such hearings result in lots of sound bites, some fervent promises — and no new laws. Will Oremus, Washington Post, 1 Feb. 2024 The topic has gone from detailed proposals in the executive and legislative branches a year or so ago to occasional sound bites among candidates for the presidential Republican nomination. Jessica Melugin, Washington Examiner, 28 Dec. 2023 Her pack of potential husbands included some future Bachelor Nation favorites, including male model/sound bite machine Jordan Kimball, the stylish and oh-so-chill Wills Reid, and the very sweaty Blake Horstmann (who would go on to be public enemy No. 1 on Bachelor in Paradise season 6). Ew Staff, EW.com, 8 Dec. 2023 Indeed, a steady drumbeat of sound bites from Israeli lawmakers and other politicos has urged an even more devastating fate for the territory. Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 5 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sound-bite.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1986, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1972, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sound-bite was in 1972

Dictionary Entries Near sound-bite

Cite this Entry

“Sound-bite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sound-bite. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.

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