vocal

[voh-kuhl]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or uttered with the voice.

   the vocal mechanism;

   vocal criticism.

2. rendered by or intended for singing.

   vocal music.

3. having a voice.

   A dog is a vocal, but not a verbal, being.

4. giving forth sound with or as with a voice.

5. inclined to express oneself in words, especially copiously or insistently.

   a vocal advocate of reform.

   Synonyms: outspoken, vociferous

6. Phonetics.

   1. vocalic.

   2. voiced.

noun

1. a vocal sound.

2. a musical piece for a singer, usually with instrumental accompaniment.

vocal

/ ˈvəʊkəl, vəʊˈkælɪtɪ /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or designed for the voice

   vocal music

2. produced or delivered by the voice

   vocal noises

3. connected with an attribute or the production of the voice

   vocal organs

4. frequently disposed to outspoken speech, criticism, etc

   a vocal minority

5. full of sound or voices

   a vocal assembly

6. endowed with a voice

7. eloquent or meaningful

8. phonetics

   1. of or relating to a speech sound

   2. of or relating to a voiced speech sound, esp a vowel

noun

1. a piece of jazz or pop music that is sung

2. a performance of such a piece of music

Other Word Forms

• vocality noun
• vocalness noun
• vocally adverb
• nonvocal adjective
• nonvocally adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of vocal¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin vōcālis, equivalent to vōc- (stem of vōx ) voice + -ālis -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of vocal¹

C14: from Latin vōcālis possessed of a voice, from vōx voice

Example Sentences

Council members have become increasingly vocal about their frustrations with the city attorney’s office.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But since April the US has been increasingly vocal about its objections to the plan which they are concerned could raise prices for goods for its consumers.

Read more on BBC

“I accept that I have quite a distinct way of writing vocal melodies and sort of constructing songs,” he says via Zoom.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

By the end of the performance, which included the mighty Los Angeles Master Chorale and superb vocal soloists Chen Reiss and Beth Taylor, “rising again” was not a matter of choice.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

For his rendition, Mr. Taylor won best male pop vocal performance.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• articulate 
• blunt 
• eloquent 
• expressive 
• forthright 
• outspoken 
• strident 
• vociferous