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
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Before Game 4, their new approach was summed up in a blunt rallying cry delivered by Hernández. Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2024 Another reason for Galan’s downplaying of the presidential election outcome may well be that economic fundamentals—rather than political rallying cries—are driving European foreign direct investment decisions in the US. Peter Vanham, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2024 These embraces have caught on as Democratic rallying cries this campaign. Neal Rothschild, Axios, 21 Sep. 2024 No matter the rallying cry, the reason is the same: Being upset that the characters in video games no longer represent your interests. Vittoria Elliott, WIRED, 14 Aug. 2024 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

Dictionary Entries Near rallying cry

Cite this Entry

“Rallying cry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rallying%20cry. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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