articulation

noun

ar·​tic·​u·​la·​tion (ˌ)är-ˌti-kyə-ˈlā-shən 

1

a

: a joint or juncture between bones or cartilages in the skeleton of a vertebrate

b

: a movable joint between rigid parts of an animal

2

a

: the action or manner of jointing or interrelating

the articulation of the limbs

b

: the state of being jointed or interrelated

3

a

: the act of giving utterance or expression

b

: the act or manner of articulating sounds

c

: an articulated utterance or sound

specifically : consonant

4

: occlusion sense 1b

Synonyms

• expression
• formulation
• phrasing
• statement
• utterance
• verbalism
• voice
• wording

Example Sentences

The book is the articulation of his vision.

her boyfriend's articulation of his feelings for her was very touching

Recent Examples on the Web

Passersby would see new articulations of Black freedom, an Afrofuturist gaze. —Tanisha C. Ford, Town & Country, 4 Apr. 2023

The sigil is said to encourage the articulation of thoughts and feelings and aid in making music. —Julissa James, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2023

Additionally, a traditional electrolarynx has one transducer (an electromechanical vibrator that creates sound) while Syrinx has two -- which generate a wider range of sound-wave frequencies that the user can turn into speech through tongue and lip articulation. —Michelle Cohan, CNN, 22 Mar. 2022

The first task is to give the intelligent agent full control over a humanoid figure with all the joints and articulation — 56 degrees of freedom that a real human has. —The Physics Arxiv Blog, Discover Magazine, 11 June 2021

In the case of digital art and data ownership, the problem won’t be solved by new tech, but by better articulation of what rights individuals have to assert: what information is collected about them, how it’s used, with whom it’s shared, and for what purposes. —Time, 19 Dec. 2022

Off-kilter humor aside, All My Puny Sorrows is clear-eyed in its articulation of fierce sibling love. —Ruth Madievsky, The Atlantic, 23 Oct. 2022

To increase rear-suspension articulation, which keeps the wheels on the ground over uneven terrain, off-road models ditch the rear anti-roll bar but gain a couple of underbody cameras that can chronicle the abuse suffered by the front and rear tires. —Tony Quiroga, Car and Driver, 23 Mar. 2023

Because charisma requires expression and articulation, though, introverts can learn to embody it while staying authentic. —Ivan Ong, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2022

See More

Word History

Etymology

Middle English articulacioun, borrowed from Latin articulātiōn-, articulātiō "jointed structure, division into joints," from articulāre "to divide into distinct parts" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at articulate entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

articulation

noun

ar·​tic·​u·​la·​tion (ˌ)är-ˌtik-yə-ˈlā-shən 

1

: the making of articulate sounds (as in pronunciation)

2

: a joint between rigid parts of an animal

especially : one between bones or cartilages

Medical Definition

articulation

noun

ar·​tic·​u·​la·​tion (ˌ)är-ˌtik-yə-ˈlā-shən 

1

: the action or manner in which the parts come together at a joint

a sketch showing the articulation of the limbs

2

a

: a joint between bones or cartilages in the vertebrate skeleton that is immovable when the bones are directly united, slightly movable when they are united by an intervening substance, or more or less freely movable when the articular surfaces are covered with smooth cartilage and surrounded by a joint capsule see amphiarthrosis, diarthrosis, synarthrosis

b

: a movable joint between rigid parts of any animal (as between the segments of an insect appendage)

3

a

: the act or manner of articulating

b

: an articulated utterance or sound

4

a(1)

: the act of properly arranging artificial teeth

(2)

: an arrangement of artificial teeth

b

: occlusion sense 2a