- a short pithy saying expressing a general truth; maxim
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
aph•o•rism /ˈæfəˌrɪzəm/USA pronunciation
n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- Literaturea short, clever saying which carries a general truth.
aph•o•rism
(af′ə riz′əm),USA pronunciation n.
aph′o•ris′mic, aph•o•ris•mat•ic
(af′ə riz mat′ik),USA pronunciation adj.
- Literaturea terse saying embodying a general truth, or astute observation, as "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely'' (Lord Acton).
- Greek aphorismós definition, equivalent. to aphor(ízein) to define (see aphorize) + -ismos -ism
- Late Latin aphorismus
- 1520–30; French aphorisme
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
aphorism /ˈæfəˌrɪzəm/ n
'aphorism' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):