phrase
one love
wun LUV
One love (phrase) means a greeting or sign-off expressing unity, goodwill and shared humanity, rooted in Jamaican speech and Rastafarian belief and spread worldwide through reggae music, most famously the Bob Marley song of that name. Example: “Thanks for everything, brother. One love.”
phrase
1
informal A greeting or sign-off expressing unity, goodwill and shared humanity, rooted in Jamaican speech and Rastafarian belief and spread worldwide through reggae music, most famously the Bob Marley song of that name.
"Thanks for everything, brother. One love."
"He ended every broadcast the same way: peace and one love."
noun
1
The idea that all people belong to a single human family and should be treated as such, used as a slogan of unity and anti-racism.
"The mural read 'One Love' in letters three metres high."
How to use one love
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA friendly way of saying peace and we're all one people.
When to use it
Informal, warm. Common as a sign-off in messages, captions and speech.
Easily confused with
true love
only love
much love
Common pairings
one love, one heart
peace and one love
send one love
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like one love.
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
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Thanks for everything, brother. _____.
Etymology
From Jamaican English and Rastafarian usage, where 'one' expresses oneness of all people; carried into international English by reggae.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for one love
See all rhymes for one love →Frequently asked questions
What does someone mean when they say 'one love' to you?
It is a warm farewell, roughly equivalent to 'peace', 'take care' or 'much respect'. It signals goodwill and solidarity rather than romantic love, and no reply beyond 'one love' back is expected.
Is one love a romantic phrase?
Usually not. Despite the word love, it is about unity among people generally. It can be used romantically as wordplay, but the default meaning is communal.
Do you have to be Rastafarian to say it?
No. It is used widely in everyday speech well beyond Rastafari and Jamaica, though it is worth remembering where it comes from and using it sincerely rather than as decoration.
What is the meaning of one love?
"one love" (phrase) means a greeting or sign-off expressing unity, goodwill and shared humanity, rooted in Jamaican speech and Rastafarian belief and spread worldwide through reggae music, most famously the Bob Marley song of that name.
