Meanings
nounperformative utterance (plural performative utterances)
plural performative utterances
- human sciencesA sentence or other linguistic expression which, when expressed in an appropriate context, actually does or accomplishes something.
Origin
Coined by British philosopher J. L. Austin (1911–1960).
Full word history & related roots →Translations
French énoncé performatif
- énoncé performatifAn expression which, when expressed in an appropriate context, actually does or accomplishes something
German performative Sprechhandlung
- performative SprechhandlungAn expression which, when expressed in an appropriate context, actually does or accomplishes something
Portuguese enunciado performativo
- enunciado performativoAn expression which, when expressed in an appropriate context, actually does or accomplishes something
Spanish enunciado realizativo
- enunciado realizativoAn expression which, when expressed in an appropriate context, actually does or accomplishes something
Cite this entry
APA
performative utterance. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/performative%20utterance
MLA
“performative utterance.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/performative%20utterance. Accessed November 3, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “performative utterance,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/performative%20utterance.
Source: performative utterance on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.