articulate
Americanadjective
-
uttered clearly in distinct syllables.
-
capable of speech; not speechless.
-
using language easily and fluently; having facility with words.
an articulate speaker.
-
expressed, formulated, or presented with clarity and effectiveness.
an articulate thought.
- Synonyms:
- expressive
- Antonyms:
- unintelligible, inarticulate
-
made clear, distinct, and precise in relation to other parts.
an articulate form; an articulate shape; an articulate area.
-
(of ideas, form, etc.) having a meaningful relation to other parts.
an articulate image.
-
having parts or distinct areas organized into a coherent or meaningful whole; unified.
an articulate system of philosophy.
-
Zoology. having joints or articulations; composed of segments.
verb (used with object)
-
to utter clearly and distinctly; pronounce with clarity.
- Synonyms:
- enunciate
- Antonyms:
- mumble
-
Phonetics. to make the movements and adjustments of the speech organs necessary to utter (a speech sound).
-
to give clarity or distinction to.
to articulate a shape; to articulate an idea.
-
Dentistry. to position or reposition (teeth); subject to articulation.
-
to unite by a joint or joints.
-
to reveal or make distinct.
an injection to articulate arteries so that obstructions can be observed by x-ray.
verb (used without object)
-
to pronounce clearly each of a succession of speech sounds, syllables, or words; enunciate.
to articulate with excessive precision.
-
Phonetics. to articulate a speech sound.
-
Anatomy, Zoology. to form a joint.
-
Obsolete. to make terms of agreement.
noun
adjective
-
able to express oneself fluently and coherently
an articulate lecturer
-
having the power of speech
-
distinct, clear, or definite; well-constructed
an articulate voice
an articulate document
-
zoology (of arthropods and higher vertebrates) possessing joints or jointed segments
verb
-
to speak or enunciate (words, syllables, etc) clearly and distinctly
-
(tr) to express coherently in words
-
(intr) zoology to be jointed or form a joint
-
(tr) to separate into jointed segments
Related Words
See eloquent.
Other Word Forms
- articulable adjective
- articulacy noun
- articulately adverb
- articulateness noun
- articulative adjective
- misarticulate verb
- multiarticulate adjective
- nonarticulate adjective
- nonarticulately adverb
- nonarticulateness noun
- nonarticulative adjective
- overarticulate adjective
- prearticulate adjective
- pseudoarticulate adjective
- pseudoarticulately adverb
- rearticulate verb
- semiarticulate adjective
- semiarticulately adverb
- subarticulate adjective
- subarticulately adverb
- subarticulateness noun
- subarticulative adjective
- unarticulate adjective
- unarticulately adverb
- unarticulative adjective
Etymology
Origin of articulate
First recorded in 1530–40; from Latin articulātus, past participle of articulāre “to divide into distinct parts”; article, -ate 1
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.
Guggenheim’s questions about Goddard were succinct, reasonable and articulate.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026
"He's very articulate, very educated," said Laura McGarraugh, 52, an emergency room nurse from Austin.
From Barron's • Mar. 27, 2026
Traders who can articulate a position in plain language will be skilled at prompting.
From MarketWatch • Feb. 25, 2026
So much of attraction exists in the realm of the ineffable, but if I had to articulate what drew me to her, the answer might be the image of her smile.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 20, 2026
She walks like a ballerina in dance slippers, her feet as articulate as hands, a little vessel of grace moving out into the fog.
From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
