What does "mot" mean?
A witty remark; a witticism; a bon mot.
Mot
/mɒt/ name, noun, slang
name, noun, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A witty remark; a witticism; a bon mot.
- Grammar: mot is listed as name, noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: bon mot, adage, ana, analects.
- Useful contrasts: banal remark, dull remark, nonword.
- Usage evidence: In return for Mary pretending to be his girlfriend at the school reunion, Tom had to agree to repair her car at his garage and get it through the MOT free of charge.
How to use "mot"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "mot" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "mot" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "mot" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "mot" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "mot" is acting as name, noun, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "bon mot" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "mot", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A witty remark; a witticism; a bon mot.
"Here and there turns up a […] savage mot."
- 2 A woman; a wife. Ireland, UK, slang
"Come wed, my dear, and let's agree, / Then of the booze-ken you'll be free; / No sneer from cully, mot, or froe / Dare then reproach my Bess for Joe; / For he's the kiddy rum and queer, / That all St. Giles's boys do fear."
- 3 Ministry of Transport test; an annual test of roadworthiness for British cars over three years old. British
"I can’t drive over this week, the car is in for its MOT."
- 4 a compulsory annual test of older motor vehicles for safety and exhaust fumes wordnet
- 5 A word or a motto; a device. obsolete
"1597–1598, Joseph Hall, Virgidemiarum With his big title, an Italian mot"
Show 9 more definitions
- 6 A prostitute. Ireland, UK, slang
- 7 An aggregate which meets the Ministry of Transport standard as a compact subbase. British
"It will need some MOT at the bottom and then a layer of washed sand."
- 8 a clever remark wordnet
- 9 A note or brief strain on a bugle. obsolete
"Comrades, mark these three mots — it is the call of the Knight of the Fetterlock"
- 10 A landlady. Ireland, UK, slang
"After some altercation with the "mot" of the "ken" (mistress of the lodging-house) about the cleanliness of a knife or fork, my new acquaintance began to arrange "ground," &c., for the night's work."
- 11 management of technology.
- 12 microwave oven transformer
- 13 A member of the tribe; i.e. a Jew
"And, of course, she and her family would be welcome in our home too, with bagels, crembos—and even the kind of four course meal we were lucky enough to enjoy with them, our fellow MoTs."
- 14 magnetooptical trap
Proper Noun
- 1 The ancient Canaanite god of death and the underworld.
Antonyms
Example
"In return for Mary pretending to be his girlfriend at the school reunion, Tom had to agree to repair her car at his garage and get it through the MOT free of charge."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "mot"?
Common synonyms include: bon mot, adage, ana, analects, aphorism, apothegm.
How do you use "mot" in a sentence?
In return for Mary pretending to be his girlfriend at the school reunion, Tom had to agree to repair her car at his garage and get it through the MOT free of charge.
How do you pronounce "mot"?
Pronounced /mɒt/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From French mot. Doublet of motto.
Etymology 2
Probably from Dutch mot (“woman”). See also mort (“woman”) and moth (“girlfriend”).
Etymology 3
Learned borrowing from Ugaritic 𐎎𐎚 (mōtu).
More for "mot"
Related Topic Clusters
Resume and Career Words
Action-focused vocabulary for resumes, interviews, and promotion narratives.
Interview and Promotion Storytelling
Vocabulary for stronger STAR responses and promotion case narratives.
Creative Writing Scene Language
Word choices for sensory detail, pacing control, and emotional texture.