motley: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1-C2Formal/Literary
Quick answer
What does “motley” mean?
Made up of many different elements, especially a varied mixture of people or things.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Made up of many different elements, especially a varied mixture of people or things; or, a jester's costume of many colors.
Diverse or varied in an incongruous or chaotic way; lacking uniformity; often implying a lack of order or harmony among the constituent parts. It can also refer to a fabric woven from threads of different colors.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The word is used in both varieties with the same core meanings. No significant difference in spelling or primary definition.
Connotations
Slightly more common in British literary and historical contexts, especially the noun form.
Frequency
Low-frequency in both, marginally higher in BrE due to historical/literary usage.
Grammar
How to Use “motley” in a Sentence
Adj + N (motley crew)BE + motley (the group was motley)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “motley” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (Historical) He was said to motley himself for the king's amusement. (Rare/Archaic)
American English
- (Historical) The actor would motley his attire for the clownish role. (Rare/Archaic)
adverb
British English
- (Rare/Archaic) The cloth was dyed motley.
American English
- (Rare/Archaic) The garments were sewn together motley.
adjective
British English
- The audience was a motley mixture of students, pensioners, and tourists.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might be used metaphorically to describe a poorly integrated, diverse team or product line: 'The company's motley portfolio proved difficult to manage.'
Academic
Used in history, literature, and sociology to describe diverse groups: 'The army was a motley assemblage of mercenaries.'
Everyday
Uncommon. If used, typically in the phrase 'motley crew' to describe a mixed group of people: 'Our hiking party was a real motley crew.'
Technical
Not used in formal technical registers.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “motley”
- Using it as a purely positive synonym for 'diverse'.
- Confusing it with 'mottled' (which refers specifically to spotted/blotchy patterns).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is generally neutral-to-negative, implying a lack of order or unity within the diversity. It contrasts with positive words like 'diverse' or 'eclectic'.
It comes from Middle English 'motteley', referring to a cloth of mixed colors. Its association with jesters' costumes led to its meaning of 'foolish' or 'incongruously varied'.
Yes, but it is now chiefly historical or literary. It refers to the particolored costume of a jester (e.g., 'dressed in motley') or, by extension, to the profession of foolery itself.
The most common and fixed phrase is 'a motley crew' (or 'band', 'collection', 'assortment'), used to describe a diverse and often oddly matched group.
Made up of many different elements, especially a varied mixture of people or things.
Motley is usually formal/literary in register.
Motley: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmɒtli/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmɑːtli/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a motley crew”
- “wear motley (to be a fool/jester)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a JESTER's patchwork COSTUME of many colors – it's a MOTLEY outfit worn by a fool.
Conceptual Metaphor
VARIETY IS A COLORFUL PATCHWORK (often a disorganised one).
Practice
Quiz
Which phrase best describes the typical connotation of 'motley'?