aphorism

noun aph·o·rism \ ˈa-fə-ˌri-zəm \

Updated on: 11 Apr 2018

Definition of aphorism

1 : a concise statement of a principle

2 : a terse formulation of a truth or sentiment : adage

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

3 : an ingeniously terse style of expression : aphoristic language

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

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aphorist

play \-rist\ noun

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aphoristic

play \ˌa-fə-ˈris-tik\ adjective

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aphoristically

play \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

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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?

Recent Examples of aphorism from the Web

Sausages bearing the names of national oligarchs are draped over the garden fence, in an apparent nod to an old Hungarian aphorism that mocks the wealthy.

— The Economist, "The EU is tolerating—and enabling—authoritarian kleptocracy in Hungary," 5 Apr. 2018
But that simple aphorism played out in different, poignant ways for different characters throughout an episode that answered some questions, posed others and could prove to be deeply meaningful in the overall arc of the series.

— steve johnson, chicagotribune.com, "5 thoughts recapping Season 8, Episode 14 of 'The Walking Dead'," 2 Apr. 2018
In a battle of aphorisms, the Need for Speed seems to be trumping Speed Kills.

— jo craven mcginty, WSJ, "Speed-Limit Boosts Show No Signs of Slowing Down," 16 Mar. 2018
Just as the old aphorism predicted, March came in like a lion.

— nestor ramos, BostonGlobe.com, "Good news on the blizzard? Uh ... we still have a few hours before the city gets clobbered," 12 Mar. 2018
Meanwhile, the employees bustle about, dropping aphorisms and tidying displays in a store that seems to have no customers.

— dave sturm, Columbia Flier, "At Laurel's Venus Theatre, a woman's wry perspective across four centuries," 16 Mar. 2018
Indeed, to spend a day with Fred Ernesti is akin to taking a post-graduate course in the classics with a dose of aphorisms for good measure.

— thomas farragher, BostonGlobe.com, "Call him doctor. Call him friend.," 12 Mar. 2018
Leap and the net will appear - what a broad and unhelpful aphorism thrown in the face of single women in their 30s and 40s the world over, the play suggests.

— wei-huan chen, Houston Chronicle, "A weird 'Leap' is the perfect Catastrophic play," 15 Feb. 2018
The gun-totin’, aphorism-spoutin’ Madea and friends have to retrieve her brother’s granddaughter from a Halloween party at a creepy lake house, where there have been a string of horror-movie-type murders.

— chris foran, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "New on DVD/Blu-ray: 'Professor Marston and the Wonder Women,' 'Last Flag Flying'," 26 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'aphorism.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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.

Origin and Etymology of aphorism

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

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First Known Use: 1528

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