public speaking

American  

noun

1. the act of delivering speeches in public.

2. the art or skill of addressing an audience effectively.

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public speaking British  

noun

1. the art or practice of making speeches to large audiences

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Other Word Forms

• public speaker
  noun

Etymology

Origin of public speaking

First recorded in 1755–65

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

public speaking

If you enjoy presenting, but are often assigned written reports, make it clear that one of your strengths is public speaking and that you’d like to do it more.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 22, 2026

There is a little mantra that I learned when I trained on public speaking at the New Jersey Leadership Collective back in 2020.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 28, 2026

Off-screen, Chapin was an evangelist who shared her faith through public speaking, ministry and outreach, according to her website.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 25, 2026

The Cardiff-born singer opened up on her close relationship with her father James Church in public speaking coach Deborah Thomas' podcast These Three Things.

From BBC ● Jan. 6, 2026

Five minutes doesn’t sound like a whole lot, unless you hate public speaking.

From "Amina's Song" by Hena Khan