Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A well-known word or phrase, especially one that exemplifies a notion, class, or quality.
  • noun A guideword.
  • noun The first word of a page printed in the bottom right-hand corner of the preceding page.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun In old writing and printing, a word of the text standing by itself in the right-hand corner of the bottom of a page, the same as the first word of the next page, to mark the connection or proper sequence.
  • noun In the drama, the last word of a speaker, which serves to remind the one who is to follow him of what he is to say; a cue.
  • noun A word caught up and repeated for effect; a taking word or phrase used as a partizan cry or shibboleth: as, the catchword of a political party.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun Among theatrical performers, the last word of the preceding speaker, which reminds one that he is to speak next; cue.
  • noun (Print.) The first word of any page of a book after the first, inserted at the right hand bottom corner of the preceding page for the assistance of the reader. It is seldom used in modern printing.
  • noun A word or phrase caught up and repeated for effect

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A word under the right-hand side of the last line on a book page that repeats the first word on the following page.
  • noun A word or expression repeated until it becomes representative of a party, school, business, or point of view.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a favorite saying of a sect or political group
  • noun a word printed at the top of the page of a dictionary or other reference book to indicate the first or last item on that page

Etymologies

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Examples

  • After all "the people of God" is just a misleading "catchword" for Ratzinger.

    A Tale of Two Cardinals Wills, Garry 2001

  • Sustainability was the catchword of the day along with going local, organic farming and the ever-present mantra, "know your farmer, know your food."

    William Marler: What Is the "Future of Food" Without Food Safety? William Marler 2011

  • "Unusual" isn't a Grammy catchword: in several of the classical categories, the most familiar name won Mitsuko Uchida, Cecelia Bartoli, Jordi Savall or Riccardo Muti, whose convalescence from his recent fall in Chicago may be supported by his winning two Grammys, including Best Classical Album, for the CSO's own release of the Verdi Requiem.

    Grammys Anne Midgette 2011

  • Exhibit 2 contains, at least in Coward's translation, an eye-catching phrase, one that's become a catchword for a certain type of literature.

    The Bodice Ripped: Or a comparison of Two Translations of No Tomorrow 2009

  • Exhibit 2 contains, at least in Coward's translation, an eye-catching phrase, one that's become a catchword for a certain type of literature.

    Translation 2010

  • Even in 1968, that was a catchword for everything that was superficial, old-fashioned and, well, plastic.

    Dow Chemical Plastics Payoff Is Baked In Spencer Jakab 2012

  • Exhibit 2 contains, at least in Coward's translation, an eye-catching phrase, one that's become a catchword for a certain type of literature.

    A Different Stripe: 2009

  • Sustainability was the catchword of the day along with going local, organic farming and the ever-present mantra, "know your farmer, know your food."

    William Marler: What Is the "Future of Food" Without Food Safety? William Marler 2011

  • “Consultation is not a catchword, it is a commitment.”

    Value Driven | ATTACKERMAN 2009

  • (Soundbite of laughter) Ms. SHAH: And I would say that before women's liberation became the catchword, she was a liberated female long ago.

    Asha Bhosle: The Voice Of Bollywood And More 2010

Comments

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  • In a book, a word printed at the bottom right corner of each recto page that matches the first word on the following page.

    February 22, 2007