elocution
Elocution (noun) means the skill of speaking clearly and expressively in public, including how you pronounce words, project your voice and time your delivery. Example: “He took elocution lessons before the campaign began.”
How to Use Elocution
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSpeaking clearly and well out loud.
Slightly old-fashioned and formal; it carries a whiff of Victorian drawing rooms and drama schools.
Eloquence is about choosing powerful words; elocution is about saying them well.
Trace the full origin ↓Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
He took _____ lessons before the campaign began.
Etymology
From Latin elocutio "a speaking out, manner of expression", from eloqui "to speak out".
Synonyms
View more →Related Words
Rhymes for elocution
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between elocution and pronunciation?
Pronunciation is simply how an individual word is sounded; elocution is the whole craft of speaking well, covering clarity, projection, pace and expression. You can have accurate pronunciation and still poor elocution if you mumble.
What happens in an elocution lesson?
A teacher works on breathing and voice projection, on sounding consonants and vowels clearly, and on pace, pausing and emphasis, usually through reading passages aloud and reciting set pieces.
Is elocution the same as losing your accent?
No. Elocution training aims at being understood and heard, not at replacing a regional accent, though historically some classes were sold on exactly that promise.