Dictionary.com
definitions
  • synonyms

perlocutionary

[pur-luh-kyoo-shuh-ner-ee]
adjective Philosophy, Linguistics.
  1. (of a speech act) producing an effect upon the listener, as in persuading, frightening, amusing, or causing the listener to act.
Show More
Compare illocutionary, locutionary.

Origin of perlocutionary

First recorded in 1950–55; per- + locution + -ary
Related formsper·lo·cu·tion, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018