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

And there’s working with people who are not exactly palatable, but who have significant sway in the region—like Dan Gertler, a billionaire Israeli businessman whose name has long been a byword for shady deals in Congo. —Nicolas Niarchos, Vanity Fair, 20 Feb. 2026

By the 1990s, Techwood had resegregated, becoming almost exclusively Black, and turned into a byword in Atlanta for urban decline. —Idrees Kahloon, The Atlantic, 29 Jan. 2026

The four teen-agers—Cabey, Barry Allen, Troy Canty, and James Ramseur—came from the South Bronx at a time when the borough was still a national byword for immiseration and hopelessness. —Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2026

That look has become a byword for French girl style and continues to influence designers like Hedi Slimane, who showcased his spring 2023 collection for Celine in Saint-Tropez. —Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 28 Dec. 2025

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