articulate

American  

[ahr-tik-yuh-lit, ahr-tik-yuh-leyt] / ɑrˈtɪk yə lɪt, ɑrˈtɪk yəˌleɪt /

adjective

1. uttered clearly in distinct syllables.

2. capable of speech; not speechless.

3. using language easily and fluently; having facility with words.

   an articulate speaker.

4. expressed, formulated, or presented with clarity and effectiveness.

   an articulate thought.

   Synonyms:

   expressive

   Antonyms:

   unintelligible, inarticulate

5. made clear, distinct, and precise in relation to other parts.

   an articulate form; an articulate shape; an articulate area.

6. (of ideas, form, etc.) having a meaningful relation to other parts.

   an articulate image.

7. having parts or distinct areas organized into a coherent or meaningful whole; unified.

   an articulate system of philosophy.

8. Zoology. having joints or articulations; composed of segments.

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verb (used with object)

articulated, articulating

1. to utter clearly and distinctly; pronounce with clarity.

   Synonyms:

   enunciate

   Antonyms:

   mumble

2. Phonetics. to make the movements and adjustments of the speech organs necessary to utter (a speech sound).

3. to give clarity or distinction to.

   to articulate a shape; to articulate an idea.

4. Dentistry. to position or reposition (teeth); subject to articulation.

5. to unite by a joint or joints.

6. to reveal or make distinct.

   an injection to articulate arteries so that obstructions can be observed by x-ray.

verb (used without object)

articulated, articulating

1. to pronounce clearly each of a succession of speech sounds, syllables, or words; enunciate.

   to articulate with excessive precision.

2. Phonetics. to articulate a speech sound.

3. Anatomy, Zoology. to form a joint.

4. Obsolete. to make terms of agreement.

noun

1. a segmented invertebrate.

articulate British  

adjective

1. able to express oneself fluently and coherently

   an articulate lecturer

2. having the power of speech

3. distinct, clear, or definite; well-constructed

   an articulate voice

   an articulate document

4. zoology (of arthropods and higher vertebrates) possessing joints or jointed segments

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verb

1. to speak or enunciate (words, syllables, etc) clearly and distinctly

2. (tr) to express coherently in words

3. (intr) zoology to be jointed or form a joint

4. (tr) to separate into jointed segments

Related Words

See eloquent.

Other Word Forms

• articulable
  adjective
• articulacy
  noun
• articulately
  adverb
• articulateness
  noun
• articulative
  adjective
• misarticulate
  verb
• multiarticulate
  adjective
• nonarticulate
  adjective
• nonarticulately
  adverb
• nonarticulateness
  noun
• nonarticulative
  adjective
• overarticulate
  adjective
• overarticulate
  verb
• prearticulate
  adjective
• pseudoarticulate
  adjective
• pseudoarticulately
  adverb
• rearticulate
  verb
• semiarticulate
  adjective
• semiarticulately
  adverb
• subarticulate
  adjective
• subarticulately
  adverb
• subarticulateness
  noun
• subarticulative
  adjective
• unarticulate
  adjective
• unarticulately
  adverb
• unarticulative
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of articulate

First recorded in 1530–40; from Latin articulātus, past participle of articulāre “to divide into distinct parts”; see origin at article, -ate ¹

Explanation

To articulate is to say something. And, if you say it well, someone might praise you by saying you are articulate. Confused yet? It's all in the pronunciation. Reach for articulate when you need an adjective meaning "well-spoken" (pronounced ar-TIC-yuh-lit) or a verb (ar-TIC-yuh-late) meaning "to speak or express yourself clearly." The key to understanding articulate's many uses is to think of the related noun article: an articulate person clearly pronounces each article of his or her speech (that is, each word and syllable), and an articulated joint is divided up into distinct articles, or parts.

Example Sentences

Articulate, charismatic and based in the host city of the next Paralympic Games, Frech has positioned himself to be the pied piper of the Paralympic movement for years.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 29, 2024

Articulate, thoughtful, charming and plain-spoken, Ms. Phelan was a strong public advocate, both in official inquiries and in the media.

From New York Times • Nov. 16, 2022

Articulate anything that makes her human and not a revenge-seeking control freak.

From Washington Post • Sep. 29, 2022

Articulate and thoughtful, he follows the news carefully, both in Sweden and globally.

From New York Times • Sep. 17, 2022

The Vertebrate arises from the egg differently from the Articulate,—the Articulate differently from the Mollusk,—the Mollusk differently from the Radiate.

From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 09, No. 51, January, 1862 by Various

Related Words

• coherent
• eloquent
• expressive
• fluent
• well-spoken