dictation

noun

dic·​ta·​tion dik-ˈtā-shən 

1

a

: prescription

b

: arbitrary command

2

a(1)

: the act or manner of uttering words to be transcribed

(2)

: material that is dictated or transcribed

b(1)

: the performing of music to be reproduced by a student

(2)

: music so reproduced

Examples of dictation in a Sentence

He used a tape recorder for dictation.

Recent Examples on the Web

In an interview with the Observer responding to the scandal, Nazir said that his writing process consists largely of speech-to-text dictation on an Android phone. —Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 10 June 2026

For one, Apple is improving on-device dictation courtesy of Apple Intelligence, but that's just the beginning. —Ruben Circelli, PC Magazine, 9 June 2026

Siri will also support more accurate dictation and more realistic voice options on certain devices, like the iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro and iPad and Mac models that run on Apple’s latest chips. —Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 8 June 2026

The most powerful model also comes with what Apple says is a major boost in dictation accuracy, including better spelling and punctuation. —Kyle Orland, ArsTechnica, 8 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Late Latin dictātiōn-, dictātiō "uttering of material to be transcribed, command" (Latin, "dictated draft"), from Latin dictāre "to say repeatedly, say aloud words to be transcribed by another, issue as an order" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of action nouns — more at dictate entry 1

First Known Use

1624, in the meaning defined at sense 2a(2)

Phrases Containing dictation

• take dictation

Rhymes for dictation

• ablation
• aeration
• bination
• carnation
• cassation
• castration
• causation
• centration
• cessation
• cetacean
• chelation
• citation

Kids Definition

dictation

noun

dic·​ta·​tion dik-ˈtā-shən 

1

: the act or process of giving commands

2

a

: the dictating of words

write from dictation

b

: something that is dictated or is taken down from dictation