bon mot

n., pl., bons mots (bôN mō', mōz').
A clever saying; a witticism.

[French : bon, good + mot, word.]

(bon mo)

noun, plural bons mots
A witty remark.

Etymology
From French bon mot, literally good word. It's from the same language in which mother-in-law is called belle-mere, literally beautiful mother. No wonder French was once the language of diplomacy.

Usage
"Many people are familiar with the things [Samuel] Johnson said - with bon mots such as 'patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel' and 'when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life'." — Catherine Keenan; Johnson's Defining Glory; The Sydney Morning Herald (Australia); Jan 7, 2006 .

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A French term meaning "good word". A bon mot is a witty remark or clever observation. Charles Lamb and Oscar Wilde are celebrated for their witty bon mots. Two examples by Oscar Wilde stand out: (1) "All women become their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does. That's his". (2) "A man cannot be too careful in the choice of his enemies".

Note: click on a word meaning below to see its connections and related words.

The noun has one meaning:

Meaning #1: a clever remark
  Synonym: mot

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