elocution

[ el-uh-kyoo-shuhn ]

noun

1. a person's manner of speaking or reading aloud in public:

   The actor's elocution is faultless.

2. the study and practice of oral delivery, including the control of both voice and gesture.

elocution

/ ˌɛləˈkjuːʃən /

noun

1. the art of public speaking, esp of voice production, delivery, and gesture

Derived Forms

• ˌeloˈcutionist, noun
• ˌeloˈcutionary, adjective

Other Words From

• el·o·cu·tion·ar·y [el-, uh, -, kyoo, -sh, uh, -ner-ee], adjective
• elo·cution·ist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of elocution¹

1500–10; < Latin ēlocūtiōn- (stem of ēlocūtiō ) a speaking out, equivalent to ē- e- ¹ + locūtiōn- locution

Word History and Origins

Origin of elocution¹

C15: from Latin ēlocūtiō a speaking out, from ēloquī, from loquī to speak

Example Sentences

And as entertaining as I was, I drove my poor husband from the room, his ears sick of what amounted to an elocution of poorly remembered, high school French verb conjugation delivered in rhyme and interspersed with outbursts of les poissons, les poissons!

From Salon

Where many performers in his position would have tales about elocution training and other pre-production research to share, Galitzine had about two weeks over the holidays to prepare to play his.

From Salon

Most of us can't specifically recognize the pains taken to ensure that the actors’ elocution is period-appropriate, each piece of cloth from their costume hangs perfectly or their hair is not only in place but also the right length to convey their station.

From Salon

When I was a kid, I started doing elocution lessons because I had a really bad lisp.

From New York Times

So they sent me to elocution, which was boring, but eventually it was speech and drama classes.

From New York Times