rallying cry

noun

plural rallying cries
1
: a shouted word, phrase, or sound used by a body of fighters before or in battle : battle cry, war cry
… the innocent ejaculation hurrah! became a fearsome rallying cry in Napoleonic times.Geoffrey Hughes
2
: something (such as a catchphrase, incident, or event) that is used to excite people to support a cause or to rouse people to action
Lions captain Sam Warburton issued a rallying cry to his team yesterday … by urging them to "reach for the stars".Mick Cleary
Ultimately, just 6 per cent of people would tell businesses to "keep doing what you're doing". If these findings do not act as a rallying cry for change, it is unclear what will.Frank Luntz
Both campaigns have seized on the attempt to ban that book in schools as a rallying cry.Edward Keenan
The much-despised gabelle, a tax first imposed on salt in France in the 13th century and at times soaring to 10 times the cost of producing salt in the first place, became a rallying cry for the French Revolution …Ligaya Mishan

Examples of rallying cry in a Sentence

the rallying cry of a political movement “We believe!” became the rallying cry of the fans.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Before Souls of Mischief took over, Ronson gave a rallying cry for the current party scene in New York. Leigh Nordstrom, Footwear News, 19 Sep. 2025 That rallying cry was broadcast loud and clear last week, when Kirk’s wife, Erika, predicted the impact her late husband’s death would have on the political landscape and the country as a whole. Julia Manchester, The Hill, 17 Sep. 2025 Those four words have become a rallying cry among Kirk fans on social media platforms since his death. Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 13 Sep. 2025 But protests and a rallying cry from the community helped saved this slice of paradise in Nolita in Lower Manhattan. Blue Carreon, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rallying cry

Word History

First Known Use

1797, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of rallying cry was in 1797

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Cite this Entry

“Rallying cry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rallying%20cry. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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