Received Pronunciation

American  

noun

1. the pronunciation of British English considered to have the widest geographical distribution and the fewest regional peculiarities, originally the pronunciation of educated speakers in southern England and traditionally that used in the public schools and at Oxford and Cambridge universities, adopted by many speakers elsewhere in England and widely used in broadcasting. RP

---

Received Pronunciation British  

noun

1.  RP.  the accent of standard Southern British English

---

Etymology

Origin of Received Pronunciation

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

And what about the classic English "received pronunciation", long the go-to sound of the British ruling class?

From Barron's • Mar. 5, 2026

The plan: To bring in a British tutor, who must speak with received pronunciation, to influence the baby right from the beginning.

From BBC • Nov. 10, 2025

Jolie adopted the British "received pronunciation" accent for the role.

From Salon • Apr. 9, 2022

The result was a way of speaking which was distinct from American and grew to be known as received pronunciation.

From The Guardian • Jul. 24, 2017

Sewel, in the Introduction to his Dutch Dictionary, 1691, gives henketsjer, and Voltaire, forty years later, hankercher, as the received pronunciation.

From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 04, No. 25, November, 1859 by Various