noun
mot
moh
Mot (noun) means a clever, witty remark. Example: “His speech was full of clever mots that had the room laughing.”
noun
1
A clever, witty remark.
"‘He comes from Montreal, in Canada.’ ‘Why?’ she said, repeating Dr Johnson's mot with a forced sneer."
— John Glassco, Memoirs of Montparnasse (1970)
"His speech was full of clever mots that had the room laughing."
verb
1
(UK, informal) To have a vehicle undergo its annual roadworthiness inspection.
"I need to get the car MOT'd before the end of the month."
How to use mot
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a witty one-liner, or (British) shorthand for the compulsory yearly vehicle safety test.
UK vs US
The "MOT test" sense is exclusively British; Americans have no direct equivalent term.
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like mot.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- mots
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
His speech was full of clever _____ that had the room laughing.
Etymology
From French mot, "word" — a doublet of "motto"; the vehicle-testing sense comes from the acronym MOT (Ministry of Transport), unrelated to the French word.
Synonyms
View more →
bon mot
Frequently asked questions
What does “mot” mean?
The word “mot” means a clever, witty remark. In plain terms, either a witty one-liner, or (British) shorthand for the compulsory yearly vehicle safety test.
How do you pronounce “mot”?
“Mot” is pronounced moh (/məʊ/ in IPA).
How do you use “mot” in a sentence?
Here is “mot” used in a sentence: “His speech was full of clever mots that had the room laughing.”
What part of speech is “mot”?
Depending on how it is used, “mot” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “mot” come from?
The word “mot” comes from French. From French mot, "word" — a doublet of "motto"; the vehicle-testing sense comes from the acronym MOT (Ministry of Transport), unrelated to the French word.
How many meanings does “mot” have?
“Mot” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a clever, witty remark.
