mantra

noun

man·​tra ˈmän-trə 

also ˈman-

or ˈmən-

1

: a mystical formula of invocation (see invocation sense 2) or incantation (as in Hinduism)

2

: a word or phrase that is repeated often or expresses the beliefs of a person or group : watchword sense 2

"Diversity" has become our multicultural mantra …

—Manning Marable

mantric

ˈmän-trik 

also ˈman-

or ˈmən-

adjective

Examples of mantra in a Sentence

a businessman whose mantra is “bigger is better”

Recent Examples on the Web

Apparently, the mantra that women should be believed didn’t hold true unless the woman was in the same political party. — Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 9 July 2026

Payroll Is No Longer Back-Office Work There’s an archaic mantra that payroll is a back-office function best left for software or service providers to handle. — Gary Galstyan, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026

The phrase has grown into a mantra for the NFL, a reminder of how quickly a career can end. — Jacob Robinson, New York Times, 6 July 2026

Then-Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel had declined to bid on being a World Cup site, citing one of his favorite mantras — protecting the taxpayers. — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Sanskrit, sacred counsel, formula, from manyate he thinks; akin to Latin mens mind — more at mind

First Known Use

1795, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for mantra

• tantra