mot
Mot (noun) means a clever, witty remark. Example: “His speech was full of clever mots that had the room laughing.”
How to use mot
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a witty one-liner, or (British) shorthand for the compulsory yearly vehicle safety test.
The "MOT test" sense is exclusively British; Americans have no direct equivalent term.
Word forms
MOTed past tense, mots plural, mots plural, MOTs singular
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 →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.