enunciation
Americannoun
-
an act or manner of enunciating.
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utterance or pronunciation.
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a formal announcement or statement.
the enunciation of a doctrine.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of enunciation
First recorded in 1545–55, enunciation is from the Latin word ēnūntiātiōn- (stem of ēnūntiātiō ). See enunciate, -ion
Explanation
Enunciation is the act of pronouncing words. Make sure your enunciation is clear when ordering in a restaurant so you don’t get roasted lamb when you really wanted toast with jam. Enunciation is from the Latin word enuntiationem, meaning “declaration.” Enunciation is more than pronouncing words clearly; it’s expressing them well, too. No one would mutter a declaration! People with excellent enunciation (also known as diction) are likely to end up broadcasters, announcers, actors, or in other jobs that require public speaking. Politicians need to have good enunciation. People who mumble or speak too quickly have poor enunciation: it's hard to understand them, because their words slur together.
Vocabulary lists containing enunciation
TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)
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Beloved
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Stories of Ourselves
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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.
Liz Benz still believes the distressed caller's voice was her son's -- the tone, enunciation and cadence all matched her 16-year-old.
From Barron's ● Jun. 3, 2026
Jerry meant I should use Chuck’s rapid-fire delivery and enunciation to fit a lot of words into each measure.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 11, 2026
Plus, both songs share a secret weapon: Swift’s irresistible enunciation of the word “baby.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 3, 2025
After some initial hesitation, Grace realizes she has nothing to lose and takes to the stage, ready to give the song her best Gerard Way, full-throated glottal enunciation.
From Salon ● May 17, 2025
The laugh that is a little too loud; the enunciation a little too round; the gesture a little too generous.
From "The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
