speech

noun

ˈspēch 

1

a

: the communication or expression of thoughts in spoken words

b

: exchange of spoken words : conversation

2

a

: something that is spoken : utterance

b

: a usually public discourse : address

3

a

: language, dialect

b

: an individual manner or style of speaking

4

: the power of expressing or communicating thoughts by speaking

Synonyms

• talk
• lecture
• address
• oration
• sermon
• presentation
• monologue
• declamation
• peroration

Examples of speech in a Sentence

She has to make a speech at the convention.

a graduation speech about embracing future challenges

I was so flustered that I momentarily lost the power of speech.

Slang is used mostly in informal speech.

Many words are more common in speech than in writing.

Recent Examples on the Web

Trump focused his speech on Washington, D.C., claiming its murder rate was higher than those of Bogotá, Colombia, and Mexico City, among other cities in the world. —Jesus Mesa jason Lemon, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Aug. 2025

The day kicks off, interestingly, with a talk on the value of academic speech from alum Christopher L. Eisgruber, president of Princeton University. —Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 11 Aug. 2025

Its goalkeeper, Marc-André ter Stegen, back in the fold after settling an ugly dispute with the club, delivered a customary speech to fans as the reinstated captain before kickoff. —Henry Flynn, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025

Quantum Leap vet and NCIS: New Orleans front man Scott Bakula was also on hand, and can be heard giving a speech about the man of the hour in one of Bell’s videos. —Claire Franken, TVLine, 10 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English speche, from Old English sprǣc, spǣc; akin to Old English sprecan to speak — more at speak

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing speech

• acceptance speech
• figure of speech
• freedom of speech
• free speech
• hate speech
• part of speech
• polite speech
• speech community
• speech day
• speech form
• speech impediment
• speech therapy
• stump speech
• visible speech

Rhymes for speech

• beach
• beech
• bleach
• breach
• breech
• each
• keech
• leach
• leech
• meech
• peach
• preach

Kids Definition

speech

noun

ˈspēch 

1

: the communication or expression of thoughts in spoken words

2

a

: something that is spoken

b

: a public talk

3

: a form of communication (as a language or dialect) used by a particular group

4

: the power of expressing or communicating thoughts by speaking

Medical Definition

speech

noun

ˈspēch 

: the communication or expression of thoughts in spoken words

Legal Definition

speech

noun

: words or conduct used to communicate or express a thought : expression see also commercial speech, freedom of speech, free speech, obscene, symbolic speech