verbal
[ vur-buhl ]
/ ˈvɜr bəl /
adjective
noun
Grammar. a word, particularly a noun or adjective, derived from a verb.
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usage note for verbal
3, 4. Verbal has had the meaning “spoken” since the late 16th century and is thus synonymous with oral: He wrote a memorandum to confirm the verbal agreement. Slightly earlier, verbal had developed the meaning “expressed in words, whether spoken or written (as opposed to actions)”: Verbal support is no help without money and supplies. Although some say that the use of verbal to mean “spoken” produces ambiguity, it rarely does so. Verbal is used in this sense in all varieties of speech and writing and is fully standard. The context usually makes the meaning clear: No documents are necessary; a verbal agreement (or contract or order ) will suffice. Oral can be used instead of verbal if the context demands: My lawyer insists on a written contract because oral agreements are too difficult to enforce.
OTHER WORDS FROM verbal
Words nearby verbal
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for verbal
British Dictionary definitions for verbal
verbal
/ (ˈvɜːbəl) /
adjective
noun
verb -bals, -balling or -balled (tr)
slang (of the police) to implicate (someone) in a crime by quoting alleged admission of guilt in court
Derived forms of verbal
verbally, adverbCollins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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