Catchphrase

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A distinctive phrase that becomes associated with an individual, brand, or situation, often used to convey a key message or idea
2. A concise and impactful expression that encapsulates a theme or identity, frequently employed in advertising and media
3. A memorable and succinct expression connected with a person or idea that often conveys a significant message in popular culture and marketing

Etymology: The word is a plain compound: "catch" plus "phrase", and the logic is literal. A phrase that "catches" is one that sticks, snagging in the memory the way a hook snags cloth. The image comes from the older sense of "catch" as something that grips or holds fast, so a catchy line is one that lodges in the mind and will not let go. The sense of "catch" that matters here is the one used in "catchy tune" or "catchword," both of which suggest a phrase that is easy to remember and repeat. "Catchword" was already in use for a word printed at the foot of a page to guide the reader to the next, before it came to mean a memorable slogan. "Catchphrase" follows the same pattern, shifting from a practical signal toward a memorable expression.

Synonyms: slogan, motto, tagline, saying, expression

Antonyms: nonsense, gibberish, non-phrase, unrecognized term, random words