declamation

American  

[dek-luh-mey-shuhn] / ˌdɛk ləˈmeɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the act or art of declaiming.

2. exercise in oratory or elocution, as in the recitation of a classic speech.

3. speech or writing for oratorical effect.

4. Music. the proper enunciation of the words, as in recitative.

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declamation British  

/ ˌdɛkləˈmeɪʃən /

noun

1. a rhetorical or emotional speech, made esp in order to protest or condemn; tirade

2. a speech, verse, etc, that is or can be spoken

3. the act or art of declaiming

4. music the artistry or technique involved in singing recitative passages

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Etymology

Origin of declamation

1350–1400; < Latin dēclāmātiōn- (stem of dēclāmātiō ), equivalent to dēclāmāt ( us ) (past participle of dēclāmāre to declaim; see -ate ¹) + -iōn- -ion

Explanation

A declamation is a long, impassioned speech. Your heartfelt declamation to the school board about the quality of food in your school cafeteria may inspire the addition of a salad bar. Like a tirade or a rant, a declamation has a lot of strong feelings behind it. There's more formality to a declamation, though — imagine a heartfelt and fiery response on a debate stage. The original 14th century definition was "a composition written to be declaimed," or delivered with passion and rhetoric.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

declamation

Here is declamation as we might have imagined coming from a rhapsode, for Mr. McKellen brings grandeur to his reading.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026

The actors' use of Classical French and historically faithful declamation could however disorientate some viewers.

From Barron's ● May 4, 2026

The opening credits of “Chariots of Fire” roll as a bunch of young runners progress in slow motion across a glum beach in Scotland, as a lazy, beat-backed tune rises to a magisterial declamation.

From Washington Times ● May 19, 2022

She sounded careful and deliberate at first, with a tone of declamation that underscored the size of her audience, the 800,000 present in person and the almost 30 million watching at home.

From Washington Post ● Jan. 22, 2021

After the long, torchlit approach, walking straight into the gaze of the snarling deity, mysterious bellows reverberating off the stone, the oracular declamation from above must have been spine-chilling.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann