gesticulation

noun

ges·​tic·​u·​la·​tion je-ˌsti-kyə-ˈlā-shən 

1

: the act of making gestures

2

: gesture

especially : an expressive gesture made in showing strong feeling or in enforcing an argument

Synonyms of gesticulation

• gesture

Examples of gesticulation in a Sentence

as the argument grew more heated, his gesticulations got bigger and wilder

Recent Examples on the Web

His mastery of the patented Jones/del Toro gesticulations (think the slow, flowing arm movements of the Pale Man in Pan’s Labyrinth) is impressive, but the best part of his performance is his creation of the Creature’s soul, an essential part of both this film and Shelley’s original text. —Literary Hub, 29 Oct. 2025

There was a rush of gesticulations, with Greenberg speaking in English. —Robert Sullivan, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025

Nonverbal Communication: Nonverbal cues—facial expressions, eye contact, posture, gesticulation—constitute a significant portion (55%) of the message. —Su Bridgman, Forbes.com, 28 July 2025

Stewart backed their rote enthusiasm with white-boy disco-dance moves and gesticulations modeled after Colbert’s clowning on his own show. —Armond White, National Review, 25 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for gesticulation

• abbreviation
• abomination
• acceleration
• accentuation
• accommodation
• accreditation
• acculturation
• accumulation
• acetylation
• adjudication
• administration
• adulteration