speaker

noun

speak·​er ˈspē-kər How to pronounce speaker (audio)
Synonyms of speakernext
1
a
: one that speaks
especially : one who uses a language
native speakers of French
b
: one who makes a public speech
c
: one who acts as a spokesperson
2
: the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly
Speaker of the House of Representatives
3
speakership noun

Examples of speaker in a Sentence

I disagree with the last speaker. He is an excellent public speaker.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Memorization and keywords help non-English speakers On a recent Saturday, eight students crammed into a tiny classroom with road signs adorning the walls. David Ovalle, NPR, 20 Apr. 2026 Beni Sabti, an Iran expert at Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies, said Vahidi may now be even more influential than parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf or even Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba Khamenei. Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 20 Apr. 2026 Alongside the film, the festival has also announced its lineup of panels and speakers. Alex Ritman, Variety, 20 Apr. 2026 The current world situation and the award-winning speaker’s warnings hung over attendees like a dark cloud. Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 19 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for speaker

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of speaker was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Speaker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/speaker. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

speaker

noun
speak·​er ˈspē-kər How to pronounce speaker (audio)
1
: a person who speaks
2
: a person who conducts a meeting (as of a legislature)
3

Legal Definition

speaker

noun
speak·​er
often capitalized
: the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly
Speaker of the House

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