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)

articulates, present (3rd person singular) articulated, past participle, past articulating present participle

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)

articulates, present (3rd person singular) articulated, past participle, past articulating present participle

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

Synonym Usage

See eloquent.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

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

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has articulated
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have articulated
  perfect
• have been articulating
  perfect progressive
• is articulating
  progressive 3rd person singular
• am articulating
  progressive 1st person singular
• are articulating
  progressive
• articulating
  participle
• has been articulating
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• articulates
  singular 3rd person

Past

• had articulated
  perfect
• was articulating
  progressive singular
• had been articulating
  perfect progressive
• articulated
  participle
• were articulating
  progressive plural
• articulated
  simple

Future

• will articulate
  simple
• will have articulated
  perfect
• will be articulating
  progressive
• will have been articulating
  perfect progressive

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

“That said, we really haven’t seen the full effects of the higher oil prices yet either, so that takes a little time to articulate throughout the economy,” Gillum said.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 4, 2026

The mayoral hopeful didn’t articulate a platform that radically departed from Bass’, and voter antipathy to her muddled messaging showed: she ended the night in third place.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 3, 2026

It is whether leaders will emerge who can articulate a vision that is sufficiently inspiring, sensible and unifying.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 31, 2026

"It's hard to articulate how any of this feels, there aren't any words - everyone is broken. I'm his mam and it goes against nature's plan."

From BBC • May 26, 2026

To him it is clear, though he cannot properly articulate why.

From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern

Related Words

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