enunciation
Americannoun
-
an act or manner of enunciating.
-
utterance or pronunciation.
-
a formal announcement or statement.
the enunciation of a doctrine.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of enunciation
First recorded in 1545–55, enunciation is from the Latin word ēnūntiātiōn- (stem of ēnūntiātiō ). See enunciate, -ion
Explanation
Enunciation is the act of pronouncing words. Make sure your enunciation is clear when ordering in a restaurant so you don’t get roasted lamb when you really wanted toast with jam. Enunciation is from the Latin word enuntiationem, meaning “declaration.” Enunciation is more than pronouncing words clearly; it’s expressing them well, too. No one would mutter a declaration! People with excellent enunciation (also known as diction) are likely to end up broadcasters, announcers, actors, or in other jobs that require public speaking. Politicians need to have good enunciation. People who mumble or speak too quickly have poor enunciation: it's hard to understand them, because their words slur together.
Vocabulary lists containing enunciation
TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)
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Beloved
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Stories of Ourselves
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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.
“It’s not just his enunciation, which, like, was super bad, especially last year,” one person said about Barnes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 29, 2026
Pope’s elegance of phrase already has a sense of chilliness; Mr. Clark’s forceful enunciation is true to the text but adds no warmth.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026
Liz Benz still believes the distressed caller's voice was her son's -- the tone, enunciation and cadence all matched her 16-year-old.
From Barron's ● Jun. 3, 2026
Back under the goofily dramatic flickering lights of Bagram Air Base, Ahmed presses John on the distinction between “translate” and “interpret” with the acumen — and enunciation — of a Cincinnati lawyer.
From New York Times ● Apr. 20, 2023
Her enunciation was flawless as she spoke with such reverent clarity that it seemed like she was speaking the words for the first time.
From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
