adj
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motley
MOT-lee
Motley (adj) means Made up of a wildly varied, often mismatched, mix of elements or people. Example: “A motley crew of volunteers showed up to help clean the beach.”
adj
1
Made up of a wildly varied, often mismatched, mix of elements or people.
"A motley crew of volunteers showed up to help clean the beach."
"The band was a motley assortment of retired musicians and teenagers."
noun
1
The multicoloured clothing traditionally worn by a jester.
"The court fool appeared in his motley, ready to entertain the king."
How to use motley
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA mixed, varied group or pattern, often used for an odd assortment of people or things.
Common pairings
motley crew
motley collection
motley assortment
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Word forms
- Plural
- motleys
- Third person singular
- motleys
- Past tense
- motleyed
- Comparative
- more motley, motlier, motleyer
- Superlative
- most motley, motliest, motleyest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A _____ crew of volunteers showed up to help clean the beach.
Etymology
From Middle English motle, related to Old English mot ("speck") — the same root that gives us mottle.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for motley
See all rhymes for motley →Frequently asked questions
What does “motley” mean?
The word “motley” means made up of a wildly varied, often mismatched, mix of elements or people. In plain terms, a mixed, varied group or pattern, often used for an odd assortment of people or things.
How do you pronounce “motley”?
“Motley” is pronounced MOT-lee (/ˈmɑtli/ in IPA).
How do you use “motley” in a sentence?
Here is “motley” used in a sentence: “A motley crew of volunteers showed up to help clean the beach.”
What part of speech is “motley”?
Depending on how it is used, “motley” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “motley” come from?
The word “motley” comes from Old English. From Middle English motle, related to Old English mot ("speck") — the same root that gives us mottle.
How many meanings does “motley” have?
“Motley” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: made up of a wildly varied, often mismatched, mix of elements or people.
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