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
Over time, that phrase grew into a rallying cry, a shorthand for the unique environment in Sanford Stadium.
—Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 18 Oct. 2025
Its slogan—modeled after the Revolution-era rejection of monarchy—has become a rallying cry for those who see the administration’s actions as a threat to democratic institutions.
—Nik Popli, Time, 17 Oct. 2025
The end result of their work is a rallying cry for filmmakers pushing against calcified thinking and conventional wisdom — and unsurprisingly, Pellington says that working on the documentary put him back in touch with the fearless twentysomething maverick inside of him.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 16 Oct. 2025
His death has become a rallying cry for many Republican leaders and activists, who have pledged to continue his work.
—Elena Moore, NPR, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rallying cry
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Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 18 Oct. 2025
Its slogan—modeled after the Revolution-era rejection of monarchy—has become a rallying cry for those who see the administration’s actions as a threat to democratic institutions.
—Nik Popli, Time, 17 Oct. 2025
The end result of their work is a rallying cry for filmmakers pushing against calcified thinking and conventional wisdom — and unsurprisingly, Pellington says that working on the documentary put him back in touch with the fearless twentysomething maverick inside of him.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 16 Oct. 2025
His death has become a rallying cry for many Republican leaders and activists, who have pledged to continue his work.
—Elena Moore, NPR, 14 Oct. 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 25 Oct. 2025.
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