verbal

[ vur-buhl ]

adjective

1. of or relating to words:

   verbal ability.

2. consisting of or in the form of words:

   verbal imagery.

3. expressed in spoken words; oral rather than written:

   verbal communication; verbal agreement.

   Synonyms: spoken

4. consisting of or expressed in words (as opposed to actions):

   a verbal protest.

5. pertaining to or concerned with words only (as opposed to ideas, facts, or realities):

   a purely verbal distinction between two concepts.

6. corresponding word for word; verbatim:

   a verbal translation.

7. using words:

   verbal facility.

8. based on the use of words (as opposed to other activity):

   a verbal score in a test; verbal IQ.

9. Grammar.
   1. of, relating to, or derived from a verb:

      verbal nouns and adjectives.

   2. used in a sentence as or like a verb.
   3. used to form verbs:

      the verbal ending “-ed.”

noun

1. Grammar.
   1. a word derived from a verb, especially one used as a noun or an adjective, as, in English, a gerund, participle, or infinitive.
   2. a word or words used in a sentence as or like a verb.

verbal

/ ˈvɜːbəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or using words, esp as opposed to ideas, etc

   merely verbal concessions

2. oral rather than written

   a verbal agreement

3. verbatim; literal

   an almost verbal copy

4. grammar of or relating to verbs or a verb

noun

1. grammar another word for verbid
2. slang.
   plural abuse or invective

   new forms of on-field verbals

3. slang.
   plural a criminal's admission of guilt on arrest

verb

1. slang.
   (of the police) to implicate (someone) in a crime by quoting alleged admission of guilt in court

Usage Note

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.

Derived Forms

• ˈverbally, adverb

Other Words From

• ver·bal·ly adverb
• non·ver·bal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of verbal¹

First recorded in 1485–95; from Middle French, from Latin verbālis, equivalent to verb(um) “word, speech” + -ālis adjective sufix; word, -al ¹

Example Sentences

There are verbal routines in “Godot” that Abbott and Costello would have been right at home parroting and physical comedy sequences that Laurel and Hardy would have gladly taken a tumble for.

From Los Angeles Times

The first is a verbal reminder to the student, followed by a “referral to a counselor” and then outreach to a parent or guardian.

From Los Angeles Times

The verbal fireworks seem inevitable: that is the Trump way but don’t get distracted by them, is the mantra for some.

From BBC

The octogenarian president’s bent posture and halted speaking manner didn’t reassure many Democrats, even as they pointed to the many verbal miscues of Trump, just three years his junior.

From Los Angeles Times

And that is on top of the prospect of sky-high import taxes, or tariffs, let alone the minute by minute verbal explosions on social media.

From BBC

Related Words

• rhetorical
• unwritten