rallying point

noun

plural rallying points
: someone or something that makes people join together to support a person, cause, etc. or that rouses people to action
In the wake of his resignation, Benedict has become a rallying point for conservatives who have opposed Pope Francis.Chris Stevenson
… Peter Singer, whose 1975 book Animal Liberation was a rallying point for critics of livestock farming and animal research.Julian Koplin
A poem titled "A Record of History" opens with the death of Li Wenliang, a doctor in Wuhan who was punished for trying to alert others about the dangers of the coronavirus. His death became a rallying point for freedom of speech and transparency.Lily Kuo

Examples of rallying point in a Sentence

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.
Instead, Tehran will shift focus to Gaza as a rallying point and use its diplomatic arm to attempt to deepen Israel’s isolation, Vakil said. Tracy Wilkinson, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2024 The Game 4 experience against the Padres will give the bullpen a rallying point this time around, Phillips said. Bill Plunkett, Orange County Register, 19 Oct. 2024 The effort to save Blackwell became a rallying point for a community that has gone from dusty desert outpost to trendy arts community, population 1,725. Marc Ramirez, USA TODAY, 18 Sep. 2024 This event marked the second annual assembly of its kind, continuing a growing legacy of commitment to impactful change through food, the central rallying point for the hosts and attendees. Sam Falb, Vogue, 19 Aug. 2024 The display of precision marching and martial music stems from the days when a regiment's flag was an essential rallying point in the fog of battle. Jill Lawless The Associated Press, arkansasonline.com, 16 June 2024 The legislation became a rallying point for Democrats after a controversial court ruling by a state court in Alabama briefly interrupted IVF services for women in the state. Scott MacFarlane, CBS News, 2 May 2024 Indeed, even when sectarian tensions have flared elsewhere, the plight of the Palestinians has long provided a common rallying point across the Muslim world. Toby Matthiesen, Foreign Affairs, 9 Feb. 2024 This is one more rallying point for the team, rooting for their coach. Richard Obert, The Arizona Republic, 3 Apr. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1774, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rallying point was in 1774

Dictionary Entries Near rallying point

Cite this Entry

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

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