slogan

noun

slo·​gan ˈslō-gən 

1

a

: a war cry especially of a Scottish clan

b

: a word or phrase used to express a characteristic position or stand or a goal to be achieved

2

: a brief attention-getting phrase used in advertising or promotion

Synonyms

• banner
• catchphrase
• cry
• shibboleth
• tagline
• watchword

Examples of slogan in a Sentence

within days, virtually everyone was familiar with the newest advertising slogan for that brand of soda

Recent Examples on the Web

Dylan notices the slogan and examines the poster to find that Irv hid his drawing of the Exports Hall, with detailed instructions on how to get there written on the back, behind it. —Megan McCluskey, TIME, 14 Feb. 2025

Since 2025 began, Elon Musk has registered his enthusiastic support for Alternative for Germany (AfD), a far-right political party notorious for its use of Nazi-era slogans and imagery. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 12 Feb. 2025

Whether that’s fans wearing the team jersey, radio listeners quoting the station slogan on-air or online audience members using the campaign hashtag — all are full-circle moments of hearing, owning and rebroadcasting the message. —Rolling Stone Culture Council, Rolling Stone, 11 Feb. 2025

Trump’s slogans—America First and Make America Great Again—embody the essence of populism, namely using ideology to advance a political program that is morally unconstrained and driven by collective egoism. —BÁlint Madlovics, Foreign Affairs, 10 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

alteration of earlier slogorn, from Scottish Gaelic sluagh-ghairm, from sluagh army, host + gairm cry

First Known Use

1513, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for slogan

• bogan
• brogan
• shogun
• yogin

Kids Definition

slogan

noun

slo·​gan ˈslō-gən 

1

: a word or phrase that calls to battle

2

: a word or phrase used by a party, a group, or a business to attract attention

Etymology

from earlier slogorn "war cry, rallying cry," from Scottish Gaelic, the ancient language of Scotland, sluagh-gairm "army cry," from sluagh "army" and ghairm "call, cry"

Word Origin

The clans of Scotland were groups of related families that joined together, especially to defend against outsiders. In the old days these outsiders might be other clans, but usually they were the English to the south. When it was time to gather members of the clan for a battle, the Scots would shout the sluagh-gairm, which meant "army cry." It is made up of the Scottish Gaelic word sluagh, meaning "army," and ghairm, meaning "call, cry." This came into English as slogorn and later became slogan. At first slogan meant a "battle cry" or "rallying cry." Later it came to be used for "a motto or phrase used by a group to attract attention."