expression

[ ik-spresh-uhn ]

noun

1. the act of expressing or setting forth in words:

   the free expression of political opinions.

   Synonyms: statement, assertion, declaration, utterance

2. a particular word, phrase, or form of words:

   old-fashioned expressions.

   Synonyms: idiom, term

3. the manner or form in which a thing is expressed in words; wording; phrasing:

   delicacy of expression.

   Synonyms: phraseology, diction, language

4. the power of expressing in words:

   joy beyond expression.

5. indication of feeling, spirit, character, etc., as on the face, in the voice, or in artistic execution:

   the lyric expression embodied in his poetry.

   Synonyms: sign, manifestation

6. a look or intonation expressing personal reaction, feeling, etc.:

   a shocked expression.

   Synonyms: air, aspect

7. the quality or power of expressing an attitude, emotion, etc.:

   a face that lacks expression; to read with expression.

8. the act of expressing or representing, as by symbols.
9. Mathematics. a symbol or a combination of symbols representing a value, relation, or the like.
10. Linguistics. the stylistic characteristics of an utterance ( meaning ).
11. Linguistics. the system of verbal utterances specific to a language ( content ¹ ).
12. the act of expressing or pressing out.
13. Computers. a combination of variables, constants, and functions linked by operation symbols and any required punctuation that describe a rule for calculating a value.
14. Genetics.
    1. the action of a gene in the production of a protein or a phenotype.
    2. expressivity ( def 2 ).

expression

/ ɪkˈsprɛʃən /

noun

1. the act or an instance of transforming ideas into words
2. a manifestation of an emotion, feeling, etc, without words

   tears are an expression of grief

3. communication of emotion through music, painting, etc
4. a look on the face that indicates mood or emotion

   a joyful expression

5. the choice of words, phrases, syntax, intonation, etc, in communicating
6. a particular phrase used conventionally to express something

   a dialect expression

7. the act or process of forcing or squeezing out a liquid
8. maths a variable, function, or some combination of constants, variables, or functions
9. genetics the effect of a particular gene on the phenotype

Derived Forms

• exˈpressional, adjective
• exˈpressionlessly, adverb
• exˈpressionless, adjective

Other Words From

• ex·pression·al adjective
• ex·pression·less adjective
• ex·pression·less·ly adverb
• preex·pression noun
• reex·pression noun
• super·ex·pression noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of expression¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, from Latin expressiōn- (stem of expressiō ) “a pressing out.” See express, -ion

Synonym Study

See phrase.

Example Sentences

“Queer content creators can always find new ways of expression,” said Wang, who has interviewed Douyin content moderators in his research.

From Los Angeles Times

They walk a fine line between supporting queer expression and advocating for LGBTQ+ rights.

From Los Angeles Times

She notes, "For me, if I have the absolute worst day or I'm sick as a dog — as the expression goes — the thing that makes me feel best is to go home and literally climb into bed under a blanket with my dog."

From Salon

“Throughout King Hamad’s rule, scores of Bahrainis have been arbitrarily detained and tortured, and some have even been killed as a result of exercising their rights to assembly and free expression,” Niku Jafarnia of Human Rights Watch told the BBC.

From BBC

Audrey F said that while she had tried to focus the conversation on the girl's exclusion from school, Abdelhakim Sefrioui had taken the lead, refusing to allow freedom of expression to be used by a "thug".

From BBC

Related Words

• definition
• explanation
• interpretation
• language
• phrase
• remark
• speech
• statement
• style
• term
• voice
• word