Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

own motion

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.56 in modern English

Syllables: own -mo-tion
IPA

14

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

3

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Relating to an investigation by an ombudsman or similar body which was initiated by the body itself, rather than being undertaken in response to a complaint or referral.

Australian usage

Example Sentences

"Extensive media coverage of the issue led the ombudsman to commence an own motion investigation."

Etymology

Anglicisation of the Latinate legal phrase suo motu (“of one's own motion”).

Usage

Australian usage

Inflected Forms

own-motion (alternative)

Questions

What does own motion mean?: Relating to an investigation by an ombudsman or similar body which was initiated by the body itself, rather than being undertaken in response to a complaint or referral.
Where does own motion come from?: Anglicisation of the Latinate legal phrase suo motu (“of one's own motion”).

How to pronounce own motion

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