viva voce
Americanadverb
noun
adverb
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of viva voce
First recorded in 1555–65; from Medieval Latin vīvā vōce “with living voice,” Latin, ablative of vīva vōx
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.
Per the viva voce system, a practice with roots in Ancient Greece, eligible voters would call out the names of their preferred candidates to a government clerk, who registered votes in a pollbook.
From The New Yorker • Nov. 5, 2018
In his last Facebook post, Krishnan referred to this new rule: “There is no equality in MPhil/PhD admission, there is no equality in viva voce – there is only denial of equality.”
From The Guardian • Jul. 2, 2017
In the 19th-century viva voce system, people went to local polling places and swore an oath that they were voting in good faith.
From Slate • Nov. 8, 2016
Over all, Mrs. Clinton’s promotional ads did more to boost her own favorable ratings than these specialized attack ads, which makes them as effective as the viva voce attacks at influencing people.
From New York Times • Oct. 28, 2016
But the apology would require an explanation—the embroglio was curious and complicated—and the explanation could only be properly understood by giving the details viva voce.
From The Guerilla Chief And other Tales by Reid, Mayne
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.
