Meaning & use
byword
A word or name that has become widely associated with a particular quality, often because it is a striking example of it.
See it in a sentence
The brand's name became a byword for reliability among generations of customers.
His generosity was so well known that his name became a byword for kindness in the town.
A note on using this word
Byword is typically followed by 'for', as in 'a byword for excellence', naming the specific quality the word or name has come to represent.
Words with a similar meaning
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