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

• address
• declamation
• harangue
• oration
• peroration
• talk

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 hasn't shied away from bashing Biden in speeches, online posts and executive orders, and the White House hasn't backed down in the face of the former president's criticisms. —Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 9 May 2025

That consolidation also meant moving up Mon Mothma’s big senate speech, which was originally slated for episode 10. —Dalton Ross, EW.com, 8 May 2025

Super Bowl, Bill Belichick's most notable pregame speech | The Herd FOX Sports NFL analyst and three-time Super Bowl champion Julian Edelman joins Colin Cowherd to discuss his first Super Bowl and detail what goes on throughout the week of the Big Game. —Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 8 May 2025

In a rare public speech that same year, George W. Bush condemned the brand of politics embraced by Trump and his supporters, though didn't explicitly mention Trump by name. —Alexandra Hutzler, ABC News, 8 May 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