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viva voce

American  
[vahy-vuh voh-see, vee-vuh] / ˈvaɪ və ˈvoʊ si, ˈvi və /

adverb

  1. by word of mouth; orally.

noun

  1. Also (in British and European universities) the oral part of an examination.

viva voce British  
/ ˈvaɪvə ˈvəʊtʃɪ /

adverb

  1. by word of mouth

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. the full form of viva 2

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of viva voce

First recorded in 1555–65; from Medieval Latin vīvā vōce “with living voice,” Latin, ablative of vīva vōx

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.

Viva voce, vī′va vō′sē, by word of mouth.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements) by Various

"Viva voce Latin Elegiacs!" announced Mr. Dumaresq, with enormous enthusiasm.

From The Lighter Side of School Life by Hay, Ian

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.