articulate
Americanadjective
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uttered clearly in distinct syllables.
-
capable of speech; not speechless.
-
using language easily and fluently; having facility with words.
an articulate speaker.
-
expressed, formulated, or presented with clarity and effectiveness.
an articulate thought.
- Synonyms:
- expressive
- Antonyms:
- unintelligible, inarticulate
-
made clear, distinct, and precise in relation to other parts.
an articulate form; an articulate shape; an articulate area.
-
(of ideas, form, etc.) having a meaningful relation to other parts.
an articulate image.
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having parts or distinct areas organized into a coherent or meaningful whole; unified.
an articulate system of philosophy.
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Zoology. having joints or articulations; composed of segments.
verb (used with object)
-
to utter clearly and distinctly; pronounce with clarity.
- Synonyms:
- enunciate
- Antonyms:
- mumble
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Phonetics. to make the movements and adjustments of the speech organs necessary to utter (a speech sound).
-
to give clarity or distinction to.
to articulate a shape; to articulate an idea.
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Dentistry. to position or reposition (teeth); subject to articulation.
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to unite by a joint or joints.
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to reveal or make distinct.
an injection to articulate arteries so that obstructions can be observed by x-ray.
verb (used without object)
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to pronounce clearly each of a succession of speech sounds, syllables, or words; enunciate.
to articulate with excessive precision.
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Phonetics. to articulate a speech sound.
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Anatomy, Zoology. to form a joint.
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Obsolete. to make terms of agreement.
noun
adjective
-
able to express oneself fluently and coherently
an articulate lecturer
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having the power of speech
-
distinct, clear, or definite; well-constructed
an articulate voice
an articulate document
-
zoology (of arthropods and higher vertebrates) possessing joints or jointed segments
verb
-
to speak or enunciate (words, syllables, etc) clearly and distinctly
-
(tr) to express coherently in words
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(intr) zoology to be jointed or form a joint
-
(tr) to separate into jointed segments
Related Words
See eloquent.
Other Word Forms
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articulableadjective
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articulacynoun
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articulatelyadverb
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articulatenessnoun
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articulativeadjective
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misarticulateverb
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multiarticulateadjective
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nonarticulateadjective
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nonarticulatelyadverb
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nonarticulatenessnoun
-
nonarticulativeadjective
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overarticulateadjective
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overarticulateverb
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prearticulateadjective
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pseudoarticulateadjective
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pseudoarticulatelyadverb
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rearticulateverb
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semiarticulateadjective
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semiarticulatelyadverb
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subarticulateadjective
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subarticulatelyadverb
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subarticulatenessnoun
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subarticulativeadjective
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unarticulateadjective
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unarticulatelyadverb
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unarticulativeadjective
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.
Vocabulary lists containing articulate
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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Vocabulary of the Common Core
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NAEP Test Words
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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.
But after the accident seven years ago, she went from being an articulate and commanding speaker to not having a voice.
From BBC • May 17, 2026
Nithya Raman emerged as the clear loser of the debate, struggling to articulate coherent responses and repeatedly exceeding time limits when answering straightforward questions.
From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 2026
Birken said you can synthesize the information you need down to a few lines that articulate your steps for making up the difference between what you have and what you spend.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 22, 2026
The exercise, he said, is clarifying, forcing leaders to articulate what they believe, and what they will set out to accomplish.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 21, 2026
On the other hand, Tristran had begun to feel, in a way that he could not articulate, that the unicorn cared about the star and wished to help her.
From "Stardust" by Neil Gaiman
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.
