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e pluribus unum

/ɛ ˈplurɪˌbʊs ˈunʊm/
/i ˈplʊrɪbəs ˈunəm/
IPA guide

The phrase e pluribus unum, or "out of many, one,"is a motto of the United States and signifies that many different things can come together to make a cohesive whole.

E pluribus unum is Latin for "out of many, one." It appears on the seal of the United States, representing how the original thirteen colonies came together to form one government. It has also been used to describe how the United States is made up of people from many different backgrounds. Although it was long considered an unofficial motto of the nation, in 1956 it was replaced with the official motto "In God we trust." Nonetheless, it continues to appear on coins and governmental seals.

Definitions of e pluribus unum
  1. idiom
    out of one, many (a motto of the United States)
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