Trivia Time

Which official U.S. document protects the freedom of expression?

Test Your Knowledge

expression

American  

[ik-spresh-uhn] / ɪkˈsprɛʃ ən /

noun

• expressions
  plural

1. 

   the act of expressing or setting forth in words.

   the free expression of political opinions.

   Synonyms:

   statement, assertion, declaration, utterance

2. a particular word, phrase, or form of words.

   old-fashioned expressions.

   Synonyms:

   idiom, term

3. the manner or form in which a thing is expressed in words; wording; phrasing.

   delicacy of expression.

   Synonyms:

   phraseology, diction, language

4. the power of expressing in words.

   joy beyond expression.

5. indication of feeling, spirit, character, etc., as on the face, in the voice, or in artistic execution.

   the lyric expression embodied in his poetry.

   Synonyms:

   sign, manifestation

6. a look or intonation expressing personal reaction, feeling, etc..

   a shocked expression.

   Synonyms:

   air, aspect

7. the quality or power of expressing an attitude, emotion, etc..

   a face that lacks expression; to read with expression.

8. the act of expressing or representing, as by symbols.

9. Mathematics. a symbol or a combination of symbols representing a value, relation, or the like.

10. Linguistics. the stylistic characteristics of an utterance (opposed to meaning).

11. Linguistics. the system of verbal utterances specific to a language (opposed to content).

12. the act of expressing or pressing out.

13. Computers. a combination of variables, constants, and functions linked by operation symbols and any required punctuation that describe a rule for calculating a value.

14. Genetics.

    1. the action of a gene in the production of a protein or a phenotype.

    2. expressivity.

---

expression British  

/ ɪkˈsprɛʃən /

noun

1. the act or an instance of transforming ideas into words

2. a manifestation of an emotion, feeling, etc, without words

   tears are an expression of grief

3. communication of emotion through music, painting, etc

4. a look on the face that indicates mood or emotion

   a joyful expression

5. the choice of words, phrases, syntax, intonation, etc, in communicating

6. a particular phrase used conventionally to express something

   a dialect expression

7. the act or process of forcing or squeezing out a liquid

8. maths a variable, function, or some combination of constants, variables, or functions

9. genetics the effect of a particular gene on the phenotype

---

Synonym Usage

See phrase.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• preexpression
  noun
• reexpression
  noun
• superexpression
  noun
• expressional
  adjective
• expressionless
  adjective
• expressionlessly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• expressions
  plural

---

Etymology

Origin of expression

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, from Latin expressiōn- (stem of expressiō ) “a pressing out.” See express, -ion

---

Explanation

The look on your face — sad, happy, bored, amused — is an expression. Your expression lets people know what you're feeling, unless you're good at hiding your emotions. Expression comes from a Latin word meaning “to press out” and it can still be used this way. If you make fresh orange juice, your juicer helps with the expression of the juice from the fruit. If someone uses art to express their feelings about the world, that's artistic self-expression: something felt inside has been brought out and shared. We also use expression for ways of saying something, like the expression "what's up?"

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

expression expressions

“This supports our view heading into October that back-end yields were likely approaching a peak, and that the equal weight S&P was the more attractive expression of the broadening trade.”

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 2, 2026

"We are all standing together because we are defending the Constitution. We are defending the idea of India. We are defending the vote, which is the expression of all Indians."

From BBC ● Nov. 1, 2026

Founder and former editor-in-chief Dmitry Muratov, jointly won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021 for his efforts to safeguard freedom of expression at the helm of the paper.

From Barron's ● Oct. 30, 2026

It’s a landscape of grief, a physical expression of love, and a reminder that those who have died remain part of the world of the living.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2026

There was a quick expression that appeared on her face.

From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold

They may also find it more difficult to remember faces or interpret facial expressions compared with neurotypical individuals.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 28, 2026

Successful communication relies on a range of signals including speech, vocal tone, facial expressions and physical gestures.

From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026

Polymarket told AFP that bets placed on events via the platform constitute "neither polls nor official projections, nor expressions of support for any candidacy."

From Barron's ● Oct. 17, 2026

What begins as an honest account of modern life’s bleak state is distorted alongside Berlant’s malleable expressions, slowly blossoming into something life-affirming, like a diamond among the rubble.

From Salon ● Oct. 16, 2026

In revolving Lady Catherine’s expressions, however, she could not help feeling some uneasiness as to the possible consequence of her persisting in this interference.

From "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---

Related Words

• definition
• explanation
• interpretation
• language
• phrase
• remark
• speech
• statement
• style
• term
• voice
• word

---