elocution

noun

ˌe-lə-ˈkyü-shən How to pronounce elocution (audio)
Definition of elocutionnext
as in speech
the art of speaking in public eloquently and effectively the oft-told story that he practiced elocution by learning to speak with a mouth full of pebbles

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of elocution At first, she was struck by Roosevelt's more recognizable voice, bearing the extreme elocution of a transatlantic accent. — Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 12 June 2024 Elizabeth—with her precise elocution, her terrifying and obvious sincerity—sounded like a woman on the brink of a great cosmic battle. — Emily Harnett, Harper's Magazine, 26 Apr. 2024 Rosetta was unusually anxious about public speaking, so she was given elocution lessons. — Anita Gates, New York Times, 14 Oct. 2023 The recordings also capture Bell’s family background in elocution (his father, grandfather, and brother all taught the subject). — IEEE Spectrum, 30 Apr. 2018 See All Example Sentences for elocution
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elocution
  1. speech
  2. oratory
  3. rhetoric
  4. public speaking
Noun
  • The Federal Reserve’s new chairman, Kevin Warsh, is set to deliver a speech Friday at an annual economic symposium in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, the backdrop for past policy announcements.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Aug. 2026
  • With the acclaim came the awards, the invitations to give commencement speeches, the honorary degrees, the chance to perform before thousands of fans at big-time sports events.
    — Corky Siemaszko, NBC news, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of speech
Noun
  • The painting, which had hung in the oratory for more than three centuries, has never been recovered.
    — Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Towering above Tomar is its castle, with an Oz-like oratory built 800 years ago.
    — Tribune Content Agency, Baltimore Sun, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of oratory
Noun
  • Meanwhile, the Israeli prime minister also sharpened his already-combative rhetoric against Erdogan.
    — Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The refugees have increasingly become targets of anti-Ukrainian rhetoric.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of rhetoric
Noun
  • Anyone who does a decent amount of public speaking winds up having a verbal crutch.
    — Jonathan Jones, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Farage has many sources of income other than a lawmaker’s salary, including hawking gold bullion, hosting a TV current affairs show, public speaking and recording personal video messages on the Cameo platform.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 July 2026
Definition of public speaking

Browse Nearby Words

ells
elocution
elongate
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Elocution.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elocution. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on elocution

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about elocution

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of devolve

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Why do we say 'break a leg'?

16 Glee-ridden Words from Schitt's Creek
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
alt-684346df967d5
Add A Letter Quiz Pick the letter that goes in the same spot in fou...
See All