Proverb
noun /ˈprɒv.ɜːrb/ — A short, traditional saying expressing a general truth.
Definition
A short, widely known saying that expresses a general truth or piece of advice — distilled from collective experience and passed down through generations. Proverbs condense complex truths into memorable form; they are the community's philosophical inheritance.
Beyond the definition
A proverb is wisdom that has survived the test of being worth repeating — compressed into the most memorable form that experience allows. Its age is also its credential.
Origin & history
From Latin 'proverbium' (an adage, maxim); from 'pro-' (forth, publicly) + 'verbum' (word). A public word — something spoken forth for everyone to hear and keep.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
'A stitch in time saves nine' is perfectly efficient: the metaphor, the number, the advice, all in eight words.
Conflicting proverbs reveal wisdom is contextual: 'look before you leap' versus 'he who hesitates is lost'.
Her grandmother communicated almost entirely in proverbs — not laziness but conviction that the old formulations had earned their place.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Proverb” when the meaning fits your context: A short, widely known saying that expresses a general truth or piece of advice — distilled from collective experience and passed down through generations. Proverbs condense complex truths into memorable form; they are the community's philosophical inheritance.
Synonyms
Related words
Proverb vs adage
A proverb is a traditional saying providing practical advice or a general truth. An adage is a concise, classic saying that has gained authority through long-standing acceptance.
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Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Recording Ancient Wisdom
An adult opens a heavy, ancient book filled with handwritten records in a quiet archive.
The ancient records in the book mirror the role of a proverb as a repository of collective truth and advice, distilled through generations and held as a portable, philosophical inheritance.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Proverb" mean?
Proverb is noun meaning: A short, traditional saying expressing a general truth.. A short, widely known saying that expresses a general truth or piece of advice — distilled from collective experience and passed down through generations. Proverbs condense complex truths into memorable form; they are the community's philosophical inheritance.
Where does the word "Proverb" come from?
From Latin 'proverbium' (an adage, maxim); from 'pro-' (forth, publicly) + 'verbum' (word). A public word — something spoken forth for everyone to hear and keep.