utterance

1 of 2

noun (1)

ut·​ter·​ance ˈə-tə-rən(t)s 

 also  ˈə-trən(t)s

1

: something uttered

especially : an oral or written statement : a stated or published expression

2

: vocal expression : speech

3

: power, style, or manner of speaking

utterance

2 of 2

noun (2)

ut·​ter·​ance ˈə-tə-rən(t)s 

ˈə-trən(t)s

archaic

: the last extremity : bitter end

Synonyms

Noun (2)

• articulation
• expression
• formulation
• phrasing
• statement
• verbalism
• voice
• wording

Examples of utterance in a Sentence

Noun (2)

many writers have used poetry as a means to give utterance to their deepest thoughts

celebrities whose every utterance is treated as though it were newsworthy

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Here’s the latest installment of the Tribune’s Quotes of the Week quiz, this time with excerpts and utterances from May 11 to 17. —Claire Malon, Chicago Tribune, 17 May 2025

Verbatim transcripts, which include every utterance as is, start at $1.75 per minute. —PCMAG, 18 Mar. 2025

His 2013 film The Wolf of Wall Street once held the world record for the most F-bombs in a movie, with more than 500 utterances of the word. —Mekishana Pierre Published, EW.com, 9 June 2025

Post repeated the last line several times, growing louder and more impassioned with each utterance. —Lyndsey Havens, Billboard, 14 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (2)

Middle English outraunce, uttraunce, from Middle French outrance, from outrer to go beyond — more at outré

First Known Use

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

utterance

noun

ut·​ter·​ance

ˈət-ə-rən(t)s

1

: something uttered

especially : an oral or written statement

2

: the action of uttering with the voice : speech

3

: power, style, or manner of speaking