leitmotif.

A recurring theme or element that becomes associated with a character, idea, or work.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• a recurring leitmotif
• a musical leitmotif
• the novel's leitmotif

On the page

The sound of cutlery became a leitmotif whenever the family avoided speaking about money.

A three-note leitmotif announced the captain long before he appeared on stage.

Usage notes

Primary category: literary. Forms: Singular leitmotif; plural leitmotifs. Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings.