SHIBBOLETH

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does shibboleth mean? 

• SHIBBOLETH (noun)
  The noun SHIBBOLETH has 2 senses:

1. a favorite saying of a sect or political group

2. a manner of speaking that is distinctive of a particular group of people

  Familiarity information: SHIBBOLETH used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SHIBBOLETH (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A favorite saying of a sect or political group

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

catchword; motto; shibboleth; slogan

Hypernyms ("shibboleth" is a kind of...):

expression; locution; saying (a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "shibboleth"):

catch phrase; catchphrase (a phrase that has become a catchword)

mantra (a commonly repeated word or phrase)

battle cry; cry; rallying cry; war cry; watchword (a slogan used to rally support for a cause)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A manner of speaking that is distinctive of a particular group of people

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("shibboleth" is a kind of...):

delivery; manner of speaking; speech (your characteristic style or manner of expressing yourself orally)