aphorism

noun

aph·o·rism ˈa-fə-ˌri-zəm

Synonyms of aphorism next

: a concise statement of a principle

: a terse formulation of a truth or sentiment : adage

the high-minded aphorism, "Let us value the quality of life, not the quantity"

: an ingeniously terse style of expression : aphoristic language

These are dazzling chapters, packed with perfectly chosen anecdotes and pithy with aphorism.—

John Keegan

aphorist

ˈa-fə-rist

noun

aphoristic

ˌa-fə-ˈri-stik

adjective

aphoristically

ˌa-fə-ˈri-sti-k(ə-)lē

adverb

Did you know?

Aphorism was originally used in the world of medicine. Credit Hippocrates, the Greek physician regarded as the father of modern medicine, with influencing our use of the word. He used aphorismos (a Greek ancestor of aphorism meaning "definition" or "aphorism") in titling a book outlining his principles on the diagnosis and treatment of disease. That volume offered many examples that helped to define aphorism, beginning with the statement that starts the book's introduction: "Life is short, Art long, Occasion sudden and dangerous, Experience deceitful, and Judgment difficult." English speakers originally used the term mainly in the realm of the physical sciences but eventually broadened its use to cover principles in other fields.

Examples of aphorism in a Sentence

Confronted by a broadminded, witty, and tolerant cosmopolitan, for whom the infinite varieties of human custom offered a source of inexhaustible fascination, Thucydides presented himself as a humorless nationalist, an intellectual given to political aphorisms and abstract generalizations. —

Peter Green, New York Review of Books, 15 May 2008

It doesn't take long to learn that a lie always unravels and that it always ends up making you feel royally cruddy. "Do the kind of work during the day that allows you to sleep at night" was an aphorism my grandfather was fond of. —

Amy Krouse Rosenthal, Newsweek, 6 Mar. 2006

The Sun twice went into journalism legend. Its city editor John Bogart is generally credited with the aphorism "When a dog bites a man, that's not news. But when a man bites a dog, that's news." And the paper delivered America's most treasured editorial in 1897, when a young girl, whose playmates had told her there was no Santa Claus, wrote and asked the Sun to tell her the truth. —

Peter Andrews, American Heritage, October 1994

Truman is remembered as much today for his aphorisms as his policies: "The buck stops here," "If you can't stand the heat stay out of the kitchen," and the like. Such slogans are endearing in a time of plastic politicians who make a career of ducking responsibilities … —

Ronald Steel, New Republic, 10 Aug. 1992

When decorating, remember the familiar aphorism, “less is more.” what does the aphorism “Hindsight is 20/20” mean? See More

Recent Examples on the Web On the other is Jenny Holzer’s dazzling 2007 tower For SAAM, spelling out seven hours of nonstop aphorisms in white LED diodes. —

Roger Catlin, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Sep. 2023 So what if Elizabeth Tippet’s script is made up entirely of one-liners and aphorisms? —

Peter Debruge, Variety, 22 Oct. 2023 The Italians have a classic aphorism: Se non è vero, è ben trovato. —

Christian Schneider, National Review, 21 Sep. 2023 Lepore has ways of crystallizing that truth in both specific examples and fresh aphorisms. —

Jonathan Russell Clark, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2023 Still, with his pervert-chic pencil mustache and X-rated aphorisms, Waters retained the joyful, transgressive spirit of a perennial outsider. —

Michael Schulman, The New Yorker, 17 Sep. 2023 That strange patriarchal aphorism, coming from Donny’s devout Catholic dad, turns out to express a hard-work ethic. —

Armond White, National Review, 11 Aug. 2023 This one aphorism has made my life richer, deeper and more fulfilling. —

Expert Panel®, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2022 Sondheim’s lyrics and Lapine’s book are full of dozens, maybe hundreds, more aphorisms where that one came from, of course. —

Chris Willman, Variety, 1 July 2023 See More

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

Word History

Etymology

Middle French aphorisme, from Late Latin aphorismus, from Greek aphorismos definition, aphorism, from aphorizein to define, from apo- + horizein to bound — more at horizon

First Known Use

1528, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of aphorism was in 1528

See more words from the same year