speaker

noun

speak·​er ˈspē-kər 

1

a

: one that speaks

especially : one who uses a language

native speakers of French

b

: one who makes a public speech

c

: one who acts as a spokesperson

2

: the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly

Speaker of the House of Representatives

3

: loudspeaker

speakership

ˈspē-kər-ˌship 

noun

Synonyms of speaker

• chairperson
• moderator
• president
• chairman
• presider

Examples of speaker in a Sentence

I disagree with the last speaker.

He is an excellent public speaker.

Recent Examples on the Web

Inaugurating the half-day conference, Raistlin Lau, guest of honor and under secretary for culture, sports and tourism of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, offered his greetings to the speakers and guests. —Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 22 Dec. 2025

Attendees surrounded a casket as speakers delivered eulogies — including actors portraying former President Abraham Lincoln and former first lady Mary Todd Lincoln. —Sophia Compton, FOXNews.com, 22 Dec. 2025

Prior to becoming the first woman to ever hold the office, Hanaway served as a federal prosecutor, Missouri House speaker and Republican candidate for governor. —Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 22 Dec. 2025

Over the course of the four-day conference, some of the speakers criticized one another by name. —Anne Bryson, CBS News, 22 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing speaker

• guest speaker
• keynote speaker
• native speaker
• public speaker

Rhymes for speaker

• beaker
• meeker
• seeker
• sneaker
• weaker
• loudspeaker

Kids Definition

speaker

noun

speak·​er ˈspē-kər 

1

: a person who speaks

2

: a person who conducts a meeting (as of a legislature)

3

: loudspeaker

Legal Definition

speaker

noun

speak·​er

often capitalized

: the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly

Speaker of the House