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

Earning certification typically takes two years or more and requires about 95 percent accuracy on dictation testing, command of legal and medical terminology, and in many states a license. — K.h. Koehler, USA Today, 17 July 2026

The keyboard also offers features like voice-to-chat dictation and a quick mic mute/unmute key, giving you easier access to functionality. — George Yang, PC Magazine, 13 July 2026

Upgrades like a new custom Siri voice and dictation feature expected to launch this fall will be limited to a small number of newer iPhones, iPads, and Macs because the older and lesser-expensive ones can't handle the memory-hungry options. — Kif Leswing, CNBC, 19 June 2026

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

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