Noun: shibboleth shi-bu-luth
- A manner of speaking that is distinctive of a particular group of people
"His use of certain phrases was a shibboleth that identified him as a native of the region"
- A favourite saying of a group, organization or individual
"The phrase became a shibboleth among tech startups";
- motto, slogan, catchword
Derived forms: shibboleths
Type of: delivery, expression, locution, manner of speaking, saying, speech
Encyclopedia: Shibboleth, Kansas