watchword

/ˈwɒtʃwɜːd/ (bre, ipa) · [wˈɑtʃwˌɚd] /ˈwɑːtʃwɜːrd/ (ame, ipa) · [wˈɑtʃwˌɚd] /ˈwäch-ˌwərd How to pronounce watchword (audio) ˈwȯch-/ (ame, mw)

watchword — 名詞

  • watchwordsingular
  • watchwordsplural

1. a word or short phrase that sums up the most important beliefs, rules, or goals

1.名詞B2
釋義

宗旨；口號

代表核心信念或目標

a word or short phrase that sums up the most important beliefs, rules, or goals directing the way a person or group acts — for example, 'safety' being the watchword of a construction team, or 'fair trade' the watchword of a cooperative.

例句

Environmental protection became the watchword for Kwame's company after the oil spill.

漏油事件後，環保成了 Kwame 公司的工作宗旨。

collocation: become the watchword + for

For nurse Heather, 'patient first' was not just a slogan but a daily watchword.

對護理師 Heather 來說，「病人優先」不只是口號，而是每日奉行的宗旨。

watchword contrasted with slogan

同義詞
  • motto

    motto is usually the fixed formal saying of an institution, while watchword can be more situational or informal

  • slogan

    slogan focuses on public persuasion or advertising; watchword emphasises internal guidance and belief

  • byword

    byword suggests something widely associated with a person or place (e.g., 'Greece is a byword for democracy'); watchword is more deliberately chosen

  • rallying cry

    rallying cry is used to unite people for action; watchword can be quieter, more about principle than mobilisation

文法句型

watchword + for + [group/organisation]

watchword + of + [group]

possessive + watchword

用法筆記

Often used with a possessive determiner ('their watchword', 'our watchword') or in the pattern 'something is the watchword of someone.' The word implies a guiding ideal rather than a casual slogan.

常見錯誤

❌The password of our team is hard work.' (when meaning a principle).
✅The watchword of our team is hard work.
💡'password' is for digital access, not for guiding ideas.
❌A watchword means a popular phrase.
✅A watchword is a phrase that expresses guiding beliefs.
💡it is not just any popular phrase; it must represent core principles.

2. a word that identifies a person as belonging to a particular group, which the pe

2.名詞C1
釋義

口令；暗號

證明身分的祕密詞語

a word that identifies a person as belonging to a particular group, which the person must speak aloud to prove their identity or to be let in — similar to a password but used mainly in historical or spy-related contexts rather than with computers.

例句

The guards asked for the watchword before allowing anyone through the gate.

守衛要求每個人說出口令，才准許通過大門。

collocation: ask for the watchword

Only members who knew the watchword could gain entry to the secret meeting.

只有知道暗號的成員才能進入祕密會議。

同義詞
  • password

    password is the modern everyday term for digital or spoken authentication; watchword is the older, more dramatic equivalent

  • countersign

    countersign is the reply given after a sentry's challenge; watchword is the initial sign of recognition

  • passphrase

    passphrase is usually longer and used for cryptographic security; watchword is shorter and more about identity

文法句型

the watchword

give + the + watchword

know + the + watchword

用法筆記

This sense is dated or historical in modern English; it appears mostly in novels, films, and discussions of wartime espionage. In everyday contexts, 'password' (for computers) or 'codeword' (for classified operations) is more common.

常見錯誤

❌I forgot my computer watchword.
✅I forgot my computer password.
💡'watchword' in this sense refers to a spoken passphrase, not a digital login code.
❌Tell me the watchword to log into the system.
✅Tell me the password to log into the system.
💡use 'password' for digital authentication; use 'watchword' only for secret spoken identification.