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• speaker
  speaker

  noun

  a person who speaks.
• Speaker
  Speaker

  noun

  Tris(tram E.), 1888–1958, U.S. baseball player.

speaker

¹ American  

[spee-ker] / ˈspi kər /

noun

• speakers
  plural

1. a person who speaks.

2. a person who speaks formally before an audience; lecturer; orator.

3. (usually initial capital letter) the presiding officer of the U.S. House of Representatives, the British House of Commons, or other such legislative assembly.

4. Also called loudspeaker. an electroacoustic device, often housed in a cabinet, that is connected as a component in an audio system, its function being to make speech or music audible.

5. a book of selections for practice in declamation.

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idioms

1. be / not be on speakers, speaking.

Speaker ² American  

[spee-ker] / ˈspi kər /

noun

1. Tris(tram E.), 1888–1958, U.S. baseball player.

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speaker ¹ British  

/ ˈspiːkə /

noun

1. a person who speaks, esp at a formal occasion

2. See loudspeaker

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Speaker ² British  

/ ˈspiːkə /

noun

1. the presiding officer in any of numerous legislative bodies, including the House of Commons in Britain and Canada and the House of Representatives in the US, Australia, and New Zealand

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonspeaker
  noun
• speakership
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• speakers
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of speaker

Middle English word dating back to 1275–1325; see origin at speak, -er ¹

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Explanation

A speaker is someone who delivers a speech or a device that makes sounds louder. The speaker gave a great speech but you couldn't hear it because the speaker was turned off. Speaker has a few different meanings, from the person who addresses a group, to the piece of equipment that amplifies sound to someone who is fluent in a particular language. For example, a native Spanish speaker can usually tell if someone learned the language in high school because textbooks don't always include the slang and idioms of everyday speech.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

speaker Speaker speakers

After reading the weird A.I. translation, a Bengali speaker said it would make them question whether they could trust the clinic—or the doctor who handed it to them—at all.

From Slate ● Oct. 16, 2026

BMW usually leases official cars for use by top members of the state parliament, including the speaker.

From Barron's ● Oct. 9, 2026

“We’re offering an evidence-based approximation, not a number to plan an estate around,” said Stewart, who’s 67 but could easily pass for early 50s, and has the poise of a motivational speaker.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026

Lewis, a proud Welsh speaker from Neath, started translating some of her favourite tunes in 2024, landed on the Parton classic and recorded a video of herself singing it.

From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026

He becomes internationally known as a speaker and writer and is one of the most powerful voices of the abolitionist cause.

From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis

Former California state Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg has been pounding the pavement, trying to encourage voters to support Proposition 37 on ballots statewide.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 13, 2026

Tempers and emotions flared - despite a warning from the Speaker, Edwin Poots, to mind their manners - amid shouting across the packed benches.

From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2026

Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas’ office didn’t reply to a request for comment.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi appointed her to the Kennedy Center board in 2019.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 20, 2026

Speaker of the prophecies of Phoebus Apollo, slayer of the mighty Python.

From "The Titan's Curse" by Rick Riordan

Tens of thousands inside Etihad Stadium booed and jeered when the Premier League anthem was played over the speakers shortly before kick-off, then they started chanting 'City, City, City'.

From BBC ● Oct. 17, 2026

Apple has struggled for years to gain ground in the smart home, where its HomePod speakers have trailed Amazon’s Alexa and Google devices.

From Barron's ● Oct. 13, 2026

Nor is there anything inherently noble about making employees spend eight hours deciphering orders shouted through crackling speakers while the ice-cream machine is down and a small diplomatic crisis is unfolding in the PlayPlace.

From Salon ● Oct. 11, 2026

“I started texting some friends like, ‘Doing this thing in the desert, bringing the speakers.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026

After consulting with Chinese speakers, she and her team were able to crack key portions of that message within a week.

From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield

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