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)

articulated, articulating

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)

articulated, articulating

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

Related Words

See eloquent.

Other Word Forms

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

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

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

I also found them excellent company: thoughtful and articulate and brave.

From BBC • Apr. 12, 2026

“I was amazed with how clearly she thought, how focused and articulate she was in the middle of such heavy situations. She loves you deeply,” Anna wrote to Joseph.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 6, 2026

While the selloff has largely stabilized, the broad repricing hasn’t been reversed, leaving many companies racing to successfully articulate a compelling future to investors.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

It was gratifying to be able, finally, to address some of these issues through our new project and to articulate the challenges created by racial history and structural poverty.

From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson

Related Words

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