rallying cry
noun
plural rallying cries
1
: a shouted word, phrase, or sound used by a body of fighters before or in battle : battle cry, war cry
… the innocent ejaculation hurrah! became a fearsome rallying cry in Napoleonic times.—
Geoffrey Hughes
Geoffrey Hughes2
: something (such as a catchphrase, incident, or event) that is used to excite people to support a cause or to rouse people to action
Lions captain Sam Warburton issued a rallying cry to his team yesterday … by urging them to "reach for the stars".—Mick Cleary
Mick ClearyUltimately, just 6 per cent of people would tell businesses to "keep doing what you're doing". If these findings do not act as a rallying cry for change, it is unclear what will.—Frank Luntz
Frank LuntzBoth campaigns have seized on the attempt to ban that book in schools as a rallying cry.—Edward Keenan
Edward KeenanThe much-despised gabelle, a tax first imposed on salt in France in the 13th century and at times soaring to 10 times the cost of producing salt in the first place, became a rallying cry for the French Revolution …—Ligaya Mishan
Ligaya MishanExamples of rallying cry in a Sentence
the rallying cry of a political movement
“We believe!” became the rallying cry of the fans.
Recent Examples on the Web
The panel doubled as a deep dive and a rallying cry: the future of film won’t just be shaped by algorithms, but by the visionaries who know how to wield them.
—Shelby Stewart, Essence, 4 July 2025
And in her latest rallying cry, Yousafzai wants more opportunities granted to Afghanistan’s elite female athletes, at a time when they have been forced into exile under the Taliban’s rule.
—George Ramsay, CNN Money, 1 July 2025
In the 1970s, an end to secrecy became a political rallying cry for gay men.
—Duane Michals Eric Jason Martin Krish Seenivasan Zak Mouton, New York Times, 12 May 2025
His words are a rallying cry, not just for his teammates, but for clubs across the continent that have long fought for credibility in global football.
—Sindiswa Mabunda, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for rallying cry
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Shelby Stewart, Essence, 4 July 2025
And in her latest rallying cry, Yousafzai wants more opportunities granted to Afghanistan’s elite female athletes, at a time when they have been forced into exile under the Taliban’s rule.
—George Ramsay, CNN Money, 1 July 2025
In the 1970s, an end to secrecy became a political rallying cry for gay men.
—Duane Michals Eric Jason Martin Krish Seenivasan Zak Mouton, New York Times, 12 May 2025
His words are a rallying cry, not just for his teammates, but for clubs across the continent that have long fought for credibility in global football.
—Sindiswa Mabunda, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for rallying cry
Cite this Entry
“Rallying cry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rallying%20cry. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
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