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 of byword

• proverb
• word
• saying
• motto
• maxim

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

Kane spent more than a decade plugging away, loyally, at his first club, Tottenham Hotspur, a perpetual Premier League bridesmaid (or worse) whose name has become a byword for snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. — Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 14 July 2026

Long before the city became a byword for radical activism, Eugene was a lumber town. — Literary Hub, 10 July 2026

No patriots so defaced America as those who, in the name of Americanism, launched a witch hunt that became a byword around the world. — Ann Manov, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026

For most of the past decade the giants of cloud computing were a byword for not needing anyone's money. — Dara-Abasi Ita, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

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

Rhymes for byword

• absurd
• averred
• bluebird
• catbird
• catchword
• concurred
• conferred
• cowbird
• cowherd
• crossword
• deferred
• demurred

Kids Definition

byword

noun

by·​word -ˌwərd 

: proverb