elocution

[el-uh-kyoo-shuhn]

noun

1. a person's manner of speaking or reading aloud in public.

   The actor's elocution is faultless.

2. the study and practice of oral delivery, including the control of both voice and gesture.

elocution

/ ˌɛləˈkjuːʃən /

noun

1. the art of public speaking, esp of voice production, delivery, and gesture

Other Word Forms

• elocutionist noun
• elocutionary adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of elocution¹

1500–10; < Latin ēlocūtiōn- (stem of ēlocūtiō ) a speaking out, equivalent to ē- e- ¹ + locūtiōn- locution

Word History and Origins

Origin of elocution¹

C15: from Latin ēlocūtiō a speaking out, from ēloquī, from loquī to speak

Example Sentences

When he did, he held the floor with effortless elocution.

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Dr Asprey says she has witnessed students being "laughed at" in seminars for the way they speak, and that teachers from the Black Country have told her anecdotes about being asked to get elocution lessons.

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Where many performers in his position would have tales about elocution training and other pre-production research to share, Galitzine had about two weeks over the holidays to prepare to play his.

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When I was a kid, I started doing elocution lessons because I had a really bad lisp.

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A recent makeup tutorial video posted by Victoria Beckham revived longstanding speculation that the Beckhams are changing their accents and even having elocution lessons.

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