oral
AW-ruhl
Oral (adjective) means relating to the mouth. Example: “The nurse gave him an oral vaccine instead of an injection.”
adjective
1
Relating to the mouth.
"The nurse gave him an oral vaccine instead of an injection."
"Brush twice a day to keep up good oral hygiene."
"The dentist checked her oral health during the visit."
2
Spoken rather than written.
"The two companies made an oral agreement, and nothing was ever put in writing."
"The history was passed down through oral tradition for generations."
"Students must pass both a written and an oral exam."
How to use oral
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither "of the mouth" or "spoken, not written."
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "aural," which means relating to hearing — the two are easy to mix up because they sound identical.
Common pairings
oral tradition
oral exam
oral hygiene
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Etymology
From Late Latin oralis, from os, "mouth," plus the adjective ending -alis.
Related words
Rhymes for oral
See all rhymes for oral →Frequently asked questions
What does “oral” mean?
The word “oral” means relating to the mouth. In plain terms, either "of the mouth" or "spoken, not written.".
How do you pronounce “oral”?
“Oral” is pronounced AW-ruhl (/ˈɔ.ɹəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “oral” in a sentence?
Here is “oral” used in a sentence: “The dentist checked her oral health during the visit.”
What part of speech is “oral”?
“Oral” is an adjective.
Where does the word “oral” come from?
The word “oral” comes from Late Latin. From Late Latin oralis, from os, "mouth," plus the adjective ending -alis.
Is “oral” a common word?
“Oral” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “oral” have?
“Oral” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to the mouth.
What is the difference between "oral" and "aural"?
"Oral" and "aural" sound alike but mean different things: oral relates to the mouth or to spoken language, while aural relates to the ear or the sense of hearing. An oral exam is spoken aloud, whereas an aural exam tests listening.
What is the difference between "oral" and "verbal"?
"Oral" specifically means spoken rather than written, while "verbal" can refer to anything expressed in words, whether spoken or written. Saying "oral agreement" makes clear the agreement was spoken and not put on paper.
What are common phrases that use "oral"?
Frequent collocations include "oral exam," "oral history," "oral hygiene," "oral tradition," and "oral surgery." These draw on both senses of the word: relating to the mouth (oral hygiene) and relating to speech (oral history).
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