enunciate

1 of 2

verb

enun·​ci·​ate ē-ˈnən(t)-sē-ˌāt 

enunciated; enunciating

transitive verb

1

a

: to make a definite or systematic statement of

b

: announce, proclaim

enunciated the new policy

2

: articulate, pronounce

enunciate all the syllables

intransitive verb

: to utter articulate sounds

enunciable

ē-ˈnən(t)-sē-ə-bəl 

-ˈnən-ch(ē-)ə-

adjective

enunciation

ē-ˌnən(t)-sē-ˈā-shən 

noun

enunciator

ē-ˈnən(t)-sē-ˌā-tər 

noun

enunciation

2 of 2

noun

enun·​ci·​a·​tion

plural -s

1

a

: the act of formulating or stating (something, such as a law or principle) in a definite systematic way

the enunciation of the exclusion principle resolved the apparent contradiction within the … theory

—G. H. Wannier

b

: the act of producing or declaring publicly

we have a national penchant for enunciation of broad, idealistic goals

—A. B. Lans

2

: manner of uttering, articulating, or pronouncing especially as regards ease of perceptibility

a region of literacy and slurred enunciation

—James Thurber

detected in his enunciation some slight influence of the brandy

—Glenway Wescott

3

: something that is enunciated : statement, announcement, expression

a tentative enunciation to a theme which was to become important

—G. J. Becker

contained an enunciation … of all the traditional freedoms

—J. P. Humphrey

Synonyms of enunciate

Verb

• speak
• say
• articulate

Examples of enunciate in a Sentence

Verb

He set out to enunciate the basic principles of his system.

enunciate a basic set of beliefs

Children should be taught to enunciate clearly.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Rice’s lyrics are carefully enunciated and given nuanced line readings. — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 3 May 2026

Arsene Wenger was plucked from ‘Japan’, as Sir Alex Ferguson memorably enunciated it, in 1996. — Michael Cox, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2026

The Justice Department and the Democratic attorneys general of 16 states and the District of Columbia submitted an amicus brief enunciating the same basic point. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 6 Jan. 2026

Yasmina spent much of her time enunciating Uz-bek-i-stan for people, spelling it out. — Joan Silber, New Yorker, 30 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Latin enuntiatus, past participle of enuntiare to report, declare, from e- + nuntiare to report — more at announce

Noun

Latin enunciation-, enunciatio, enuntiation-, enuntiatio, from enunciatus, enuntiatus + -ion-, -io -ion

First Known Use

Verb

1623, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Rhymes for enunciate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate
• angulate

Video

'Mispronunciations' That May Be Fine

'Mischievous,' 'nuclear,' and other words to pronounce with caution.

Kids Definition

enunciate

verb

enun·​ci·​ate ē-ˈnən(t)-sē-ˌāt 

enunciated; enunciating

1

: to make known publicly : proclaim

2

: to pronounce clearly : articulate

enunciable

-ə-bəl 

adjective

enunciation

-ˌnən(t)-sē-ˈā-shən 

noun

enunciator

-ˈnən(t)-sē-ˌāt-ər 

noun