Synonyms

public speaking

American

noun

the act of delivering speeches in public.
the art or skill of addressing an audience effectively.

public speaking British

noun

the art or practice of making speeches to large audiences

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

public speaker

noun

Etymology

Origin of public speaking

First recorded in 1755–65

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.

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

Long before she dabbled with public speaking or modelling, Abena felt a pull towards Africa, a feeling she could not articulate but could not ignore.

From BBC • Jan. 27, 2026

Perhaps these qualities also prepared her to weather the slings and arrows of international NGO leadership and public speaking.

From Salon • Oct. 1, 2025

Barron Trump, the president’s youngest son, isn’t on the public speaking circuit and has no social media presence.

From Slate • Feb. 25, 2025

Mark Antony had studied public speaking in Athens as a young man and had developed a keen appreciation for the Greek customs practiced throughout the region.

From "Sterling Biographies®: Cleopatra: Egypt's Last and Greatest Queen" by Susan Blackaby

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023