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

Derived 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.

Here was the Founders’ model in miniature: classical knowledge, truth and beauty, memorization and public speaking.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 9, 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

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

From Salon • Oct. 1, 2025

It was the first time Knox was sharing her story in front of a crowd and she asked to meet with Lewinsky, whose writing and public speaking she said she had “devoured” in preparation.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 26, 2025

Not only did we have advanced academic classes, we were also taught time-management skills, essay writing, and public speaking.

From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad

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