quotation
kwoh-TAYSHN
Quotation (noun) means someone else's words repeated exactly, usually from a book, speech, or famous person. Example: “She opened her speech with a quotation from Maya Angelou.”
noun
1
Someone else's words repeated exactly, usually from a book, speech, or famous person.
"She opened her speech with a quotation from Maya Angelou."
"The article was full of quotations from anonymous sources."
2
A stated price for goods or a service.
"We got three quotations before choosing a builder."
How to use quotation
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a repeated piece of someone else's words, or a stated price for a job.
Common mistake
"Quote" and "quotation" mean the same thing, but "quotation" is generally more formal.
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Plural
- quotations
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She opened her speech with a _____ from Maya Angelou.
Etymology
From Medieval Latin quotātiō, tied to quotāre ("to number" or "to mark"); the "repeated words" sense developed in English from the 17th century onward.
Class of 1600
quotation joined the language around 1600.
See the full Class of 1600 →
Related words
Rhymes for quotation
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for quotation →
Frequently asked questions
What does “quotation” mean?
The word “quotation” means someone else's words repeated exactly, usually from a book, speech, or famous person. In plain terms, either a repeated piece of someone else's words, or a stated price for a job.
How do you pronounce “quotation”?
“Quotation” is pronounced kwoh-TAYSHN (/kwoʊˈteɪʃn̩/ in IPA).
How do you use “quotation” in a sentence?
Here is “quotation” used in a sentence: “She opened her speech with a quotation from Maya Angelou.”
What is another word for “quotation”?
Words with a similar meaning to “quotation” include quote.
What part of speech is “quotation”?
“Quotation” is a noun.
Where does the word “quotation” come from?
The word “quotation” dates back to around 1600 and comes from Medieval Latin. From Medieval Latin quotātiō, tied to quotāre ("to number" or "to mark"); the "repeated words" sense developed in English from the 17th century onward.
Is “quotation” a common word?
“Quotation” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “quotation” have?
“Quotation” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: someone else's words repeated exactly, usually from a book, speech, or famous person.
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