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
Geoffrey Hughes2
: 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
Mick ClearyUltimately, 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
Frank LuntzBoth campaigns have seized on the attempt to ban that book in schools as a rallying cry.—Edward Keenan
Edward KeenanThe 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
Ligaya MishanExamples 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
Wimberley Strong stickers and flags became a common sight and silent rallying cries around town.
—Matthew Odam, Austin American Statesman, 15 July 2025
This one, in less than a decade, has become a rallying cry, and when things go wrong for an SEC team, something opposing fans gleefully mock.
—Seth Emerson, New York Times, 10 July 2025
The Padilla affair, in contrast, became a rallying cry.
—Mike Lillis, The Hill, 14 June 2025
The panel doubled as a deep dive and a rallying cry: the future of film won’t just be shaped by algorithms, but by the visionaries who know how to wield them.
—Shelby Stewart, Essence, 4 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for rallying cry
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Matthew Odam, Austin American Statesman, 15 July 2025
This one, in less than a decade, has become a rallying cry, and when things go wrong for an SEC team, something opposing fans gleefully mock.
—Seth Emerson, New York Times, 10 July 2025
The Padilla affair, in contrast, became a rallying cry.
—Mike Lillis, The Hill, 14 June 2025
The panel doubled as a deep dive and a rallying cry: the future of film won’t just be shaped by algorithms, but by the visionaries who know how to wield them.
—Shelby Stewart, Essence, 4 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for rallying cry
Cite this Entry
“Rallying cry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rallying%20cry. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
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