enunciate

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

Synonyms of enunciate

• speak
• say
• articulate

Examples of enunciate in a Sentence

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

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

Xi also invoked Panchsheel—the five principles of peaceful coexistence jointly enunciated by India and China in 1954—but Modi chose not to respond. —Shyam Saran, Time, 10 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1623, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Rhymes for enunciate

• abbreviate
• accelerate
• accommodate
• accumulate
• acuminate
• adjudicate
• adulterate
• affiliate
• agglomerate
• agglutinate
• alleviate
• amalgamate

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