What does motormouth mean?
A motormouth is someone who speaks at extraordinary length, often without leaving room for others to contribute. The term is informal and generally disparaging: it suggests not simply enthusiasm for conversation, but a person whose talk is excessive, difficult to interrupt, or irritating. It can also be used as a verb, as in "stop motormouthing," to describe continuous or overly voluble speech. The word is especially common in North American informal English. Its vivid comparison to a motor or engine emphasizes the idea of speech that keeps running without pause. Although it may once have been used more neutrally, modern usage usually carries a negative or teasing tone, so it can be considered rude when directed at someone directly. The expression remains a familiar and effective label for persistently talkative people in conversation, storytelling, and informal commentary.
A person who talks excessively, especially in a way that annoys others or makes interruption difficult.
"I asked one question, and the motormouth answered for ten minutes."
Informal and often derogatory; it is more common in North American English.
To speak continuously or excessively, especially in a way that prevents others from participating.
"They were all talking at once, and one friend told him to stop motormouthing."
Informal and usually negative in tone. It often implies that the speaker is being excessively long-winded or domineering.
The regular plural is used when referring to more than one person with this habit.
"The two motormouths kept talking throughout the performance."
Motormouth turns the idea of a constantly running engine into a vivid metaphor for someone whose conversation never seems to stop.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does motormouth come from?
Motormouth is a compound of "motor" and "mouth," formed in the early 20th century. The expression compares a person's unstoppable flow of speech to a motor running continuously. Its compound element "motor" comes through French from Latin "motor," meaning a mover or engine, while "mouth" is an Old English word inherited from Germanic.
How motormouth is actually used
Informal and usually disparaging. The noun commonly carries the connotation of being noisy, self-absorbing, or impossible to interrupt; the verb is similarly used to describe overly persistent speech. The closed form "motormouth" is standard, although "motor mouth" is also encountered.