motley

adjective

mot·​ley ˈmät-lē 

1

: variegated in color

a motley coat

2

: made up of many different people or things

a motley crowd

a motley collection of junk

Did you know?

Motley Might Have Roots in Middle English

The word motley wears many colorful hats, each having a distinct use. As an adjective it implies variety, be it in hues or humans. As a noun it can identify an eclectic variety, a multicolored fabric, a garment made from such a fabric, or the jester known for wearing such garments in the European courts of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. The word's origin is unknown, but some etymologists suspect that Middle English mot, meaning "mote" or "speck," may be its source. There may be a speck of truth to that. Surely, etymologists (and lexicographers) don’t jest.

Synonyms of motley

• eclectic
• varied
• assorted
• mixed
• diverse

Examples of motley in a Sentence

a motley collection of junk

a motley crew of musicians

Recent Examples on the Web

The subtitle for the game is Beyond Dreams and deals with a protagonist (shown above) who is plagued by strange visions in his sleep, with what looks like a motley bunch of companions. —Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026

The Paper centered on Michael Keaton — in his third film with Howard — as Henry Hackett, metro editor of the New York Sun, who navigates a motley roster of colleagues, including his nemesis in managing editor Alicia Clark (Glenn Close), over a 24-hour period to get that day’s edition to newsstands. —Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 10 May 2026

The motley mix of guests is not as formal; guests are here on vacation, wearing Birkenstocks and comfortable walking shoes in warmer weather, along with light sweaters and jeans during the cooler months (during Prague’s frigid winter, the hotel has very low occupancy). —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Apr. 2026

Kevin’s new roommates at Astoria-area adoption center Furrever Friends are a motley bumch. —Alison Herman, Variety, 20 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, perhaps from mot mote, speck

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing motley

• motley crew

Rhymes for motley

• hotly

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Kids Definition

motley

1 of 2 adjective

mot·​ley ˈmät-lē 

1

: having various colors

2

: composed of various often unlike kinds or parts

a motley collection of junk

motley

2 of 2 noun

1

a

: a garment of mixed colors worn by a court jester

b

: fool entry 1 sense 2

2

: a mixture of different elements