byword

IPA/ˈbaɪwɜːd/
KK[bˈaɪwˌɚd]IPA/ˈbaɪwɜːrd/

byword — noun

  • bywordsingular
  • bywordsplural

1. a person, place, or thing that people instantly associate with one striking qual

1.nounC2
Definition

a person, place, or thing that people instantly associate with one striking quality, often an unpleasant one

Example

After the scandal, the company became a byword for corporate greed.

pattern: become a byword for + quality

For years, the bridge project was a byword for delays in the city.

Common collocations
  • become a byword for corruption
  • be a byword for delay
  • remain a byword for waste
Synonyms
  • epitome

    suggests a perfect example, often with a more literary tone

  • embodiment

    emphasizes that the quality seems to take visible form in a person or thing

  • symbol

    broader and less tied to repeated public talk about the quality

Grammar Patterns

be a byword for + quality

Usage Note

Most often used in the pattern "a byword for + noun." It commonly points to a bad reputation, though a positive quality is also possible.

2. a traditional short saying that people pass on as shared wisdom

2.nounC2
Definition

a traditional short saying that people pass on as shared wisdom

Example

The old farmer taught the children a byword about planting after rain.

teaching context: teach someone a byword

At lunch, Anjali repeated a byword her grandmother still says at home.

Common collocations
  • old byword
  • ancient byword
  • repeat a byword
  • local byword
Synonyms
  • proverb

    the closest everyday synonym for a traditional piece of wisdom

  • adage

    slightly more formal and often stresses long-accepted truth

  • maxim

    usually sounds more deliberate or rule-like than folk wisdom

Grammar Patterns

repeat a byword

a byword about + topic

Usage Note

This sense is mostly found in older writing or when discussing traditional language. In ordinary modern English, people usually say "proverb" or "saying" instead.

3. a word or expression that people repeat so often that it becomes strongly tied t

3.nounC2
Definition

a word or expression that people repeat so often that it becomes strongly tied to a time, group, or public debate

Example

After the flood season, 'resilience' became the year's byword in local news.

quoted word as the byword of a period

During the campaign, 'change' was the byword on every bright poster.

Common collocations
  • the year's byword
  • campaign byword
  • political byword
  • media byword
Synonyms
  • buzzword

    often suggests a fashionable term used heavily for effect

  • catchphrase

    usually refers to a memorable repeated line rather than a general public term

  • watchword

    often points to a guiding slogan or principle rather than simple popularity

Grammar Patterns

be the byword in + group

be the byword of + period

Usage Note

This sense focuses on the repeated word or phrase itself. Distinguish it from sense 1, where a person or thing stands for a quality.

Common Mistakes

The mayor was the election byword.
Change" was the election byword.
This sense names the repeated expression, not the person in the campaign.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

In sense 1, byword is closest to synonym when we say something is a byword for corruption or delay, but the two words are not the same. Synonym usually belongs to language, while byword here means a person or thing that people strongly connect with a quality. Epitome and embodiment also suggest a striking example, often with a more literary tone and sometimes with praise. Byword is more often used when public talk has fixed a bad reputation in people's minds. Symbol is broader and can describe a sign, object, or image without the idea of repeated public association. A medal can be a symbol of courage, but a wasteful project can become a byword for incompetence.

epitome ↗embodiment ↗symbol ↗synonym ↗

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Byword comes from Old English byword, formed from by and word. It first referred to a familiar saying or proverb passed from speaker to speaker. From that older meaning, English later developed the sense of a name, person, or thing that becomes strongly linked with a quality because people keep mentioning it in the same way.