el·o·cu·tion
ˌe-lə-ˈkyü-shən 
1
: a style of speaking especially in public
2
: the art of effective public speaking
el·o·cu·tion·ist
-sh(ə)nə̇st
plural -s
: a person adept in elocution: such as
a
: a teacher of elocution
b
: a professional reciter or reader
Examples of elocution in a Sentence
Noun (1)
He took lessons in elocution.
the oft-told story that he practiced elocution by learning to speak with a mouth full of pebbles
Recent Examples on the Web
Valerie M. Fridland, The Conversation, 21 Apr. 2026
Players understanding the play calls filtered through his thick Southern elocution.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 28 July 2025
The delightful elocution of their dry-as-martini witticisms (dialect coach Nancy Carlin) adds to the joys of this period piece.
—Karen D'souza, The Mercury News, 25 Oct. 2024
The Bartlet staff’s righteous (and self-righteous) elocution might seem — to the cynical — sentimental, treacly, smarmy, or just eye-roll-inducingly dumb.
—Lizzie Logan, Vulture, 23 Sep. 2024
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Noun
The language went on to experience centuries of tumult: Viking invasions, which introduced Old Norse influence; Anglo-Norman French rule, which shifted the language of the elite to French; and 18th-Century grammarians, who dictated norms with their elocution and grammar guides.
—Valerie M. Fridland, The Conversation, 21 Apr. 2026
Players understanding the play calls filtered through his thick Southern elocution.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 28 July 2025
The delightful elocution of their dry-as-martini witticisms (dialect coach Nancy Carlin) adds to the joys of this period piece.
—Karen D'souza, The Mercury News, 25 Oct. 2024
The Bartlet staff’s righteous (and self-righteous) elocution might seem — to the cynical — sentimental, treacly, smarmy, or just eye-roll-inducingly dumb.
—Lizzie Logan, Vulture, 23 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for elocution
Cite this Entry
“Elocution.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elocution. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
elocution
noun
el·o·cu·tion
ˌel-ə-ˈkyü-shən
1
: a style of speaking especially in public
2
: the art of effective public speaking
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