watchword
5 synonyms for watchword, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A word adopted as a slogan expressing a principle, belief or guiding rule; a call to action.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Etymology
Comes from Middle English wacche word, wacchworde, made up of watch (“guard, sentinel, sentry”) and word.
Full origin of watchword →