Meanings
plural elocutions
- countableuncountableThe art of speaking, especially public speaking, with expert control of gesture and voice, diction (articulation and word choice), and usage.
study elocution
5 more examples
perfect elocution
elocution training
She took elocution lessons to improve her public speaking.
His elocution was precise and clear.
[Editor David W. Blight said:] Finally, Bingham saw the early American republic as a new political beginning for humankind, and his more than one million schoolbooks sold across the land were designed to produce republican citizens. The Columbian Orator was an elocution manual as well as a reader for school children in the new republic.
1997 [1797], David W. Blight, “Editor's Introduction: The Peculiar Dialogue Between Caleb Bingham and Frederick Douglass”, in Caleb Bingham, edited by David W. Blight, The Columbian Orator, Bicentennial Edition (1997 republishing), New York University Press, →ISBN
Origin
- Late Latinēlocutiōnem
- Middle Englishelocucioun
- Englishelocution
From Middle English elocucioun, ellocucioun, from Late Latin ēlocutiōnem. Doublet of elocutio.
More words from Middle English, Late Latin
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Chinese Mandarin 演講術 /演讲术, 講演術 /讲演术
- 演講術 /演讲术 (yǎnjiǎngshù)The art of public speaking with expert control of gesture and voice, etc.
- 講演術 /讲演术 (jiǎngyǎnshù)The art of public speaking with expert control of gesture and voice, etc.
Czech řečnické umění
- řečnické uměníThe art of public speaking with expert control of gesture and voice, etc.
Finnish elokuutio, suullinen esitystaito
- elokuutioThe art of public speaking with expert control of gesture and voice, etc.
- suullinen esitystaitoThe art of public speaking with expert control of gesture and voice, etc.
French élocution
- élocutionThe art of public speaking with expert control of gesture and voice, etc.
German Sprechtechnik, Redekunst
- SprechtechnikThe art of public speaking with expert control of gesture and voice, etc.
- RedekunstThe art of public speaking with expert control of gesture and voice, etc.
- RhetorikThe art of public speaking with expert control of gesture and voice, etc.
Italian elocuzione
- elocuzioneThe art of public speaking with expert control of gesture and voice, etc.
Persian فنّ بیان
- فنّ بیان (fann-e bayân)The art of public speaking with expert control of gesture and voice, etc.
Romanian elocuțiune
- elocuțiuneThe art of public speaking with expert control of gesture and voice, etc.
Russian ораторское искусство
- ораторское искусство (oratorskoje iskusstvo)The art of public speaking with expert control of gesture and voice, etc.
Swedish vältalighet, föredrag
- vältalighetThe art of public speaking with expert control of gesture and voice, etc.
- föredragThe art of public speaking with expert control of gesture and voice, etc.
Rhymes & wordplay
Anagrams
Cite this entry
elocution. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/elocution
“elocution.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/elocution. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “elocution,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/elocution.
Source: elocution on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.