elocution
Americannoun
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a person's manner of speaking or reading aloud in public.
The actor's elocution is faultless.
-
the study and practice of oral delivery, including the control of both voice and gesture.
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of elocution
1500–10; < Latin ēlocūtiōn- (stem of ēlocūtiō ) a speaking out, equivalent to ē- e- 1 + locūtiōn- locution
Explanation
If you're particularly good at elocution, or speaking clearly and expressively, you may have a successful career in radio ahead of you. Elocution is the skill of pronouncing your words correctly. There are even elocution coaches for actors, singers, or anyone else who wants to improve theirs. Elocution sometimes describes a particular style of speaking, like an announcer's elocution that sounds like he's from the Bronx. The Latin elocutionem is its root, meaning "manner of expression;" in Classical Latin it meant public speaking or oratory.
Vocabulary lists containing elocution
The Great Gatsby
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Pygmalion
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Cloth lettered, ELOCUTION: with a Selection of Pieces.
From Chambers's Edinburgh Journal, No. 456 Volume 18, New Series, September 25, 1852 by Chambers, Robert
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
