slogan

noun

slo·​gan ˈslō-gən How to pronounce slogan (audio)
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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Masked militants appeared at some celebrations, where crowds chanted slogans in support of them, according to Associated Press reporters in Gaza. Wafaa Shurafa, Samy Magdy, Melanie Lidman and Sam Mednick The Associated Press, arkansasonline.com, 20 Jan. 2025 Masked fighters appeared at some celebrations, where crowds chanted slogans in support of them, according to Associated Press reporters in Gaza. Samy Magdy, Chicago Tribune, 19 Jan. 2025 Advertisement Hundreds of Yoon’s supporters rallied for hours in streets near the court and the detention center, waving banners and chanting slogans calling for his release. Kim Tong-Hyung, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2025 The state of Uttar Pradesh, led by Chief Minister Adityanath, a prominent Hindu monk and hard-line politician in Modi's party, has leveraged the event with giant billboards and posters showcasing both leaders alongside slogans promoting government welfare policies. John Mac Ghlionn, Newsweek, 13 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for slogan 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of slogan was in 1513

Dictionary Entries Near slogan

Cite this Entry

“Slogan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slogan. Accessed 24 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

slogan

noun
slo·​gan ˈslō-gən How to pronounce slogan (audio)
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."

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