From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishmottomot‧to /ˈmɒtəʊ $ ˈmɑːtoʊ/ noun (plural mottos or mottoes) [countable] SAYINGa short sentence or phrase giving a rule on how to behave, which expresses the aims or beliefs of a person, school, or institution ‘Be prepared’ is the motto of the Boy Scouts.► see thesaurus at phrase
Examples from the Corpus
motto• The Mortimer family motto is inscribed above the door -- 'Humilitas'.• Try before you buy is a good motto.• "All my life, " said Sir Humphrey, "my motto has been 'aim high'."• Mind my own business, that's my motto.• But our motto is win with class, lose with class.• Brevity was always Britten's motto, as well as Verdi's.• The school's motto was 'Work hard and play hard'.• "Be prepared" is the motto of the Boy Scouts.• Peter remembered the motto he had chosen for the Emperor's Luck Casino in Emor.• That's the motto of car salesmen who have put up a gag board to amuse motorists.• In a rare public statement, the tough undercover soldiers - whose motto is Who Dares Wins - have apologised.Origin motto (1500-1600) Italian “word” 