1
a
: the communication or expression of thoughts in spoken words
b
: exchange of spoken words : conversation
4
: the power of expressing or communicating thoughts by speaking
Synonyms
Examples of speech in a Sentence
She has to make a speech at the convention.
a graduation speech about embracing future challenges
I was so flustered that I momentarily lost the power of speech.
Slang is used mostly in informal speech.
Many words are more common in speech than in writing.
Recent Examples on the Web
Now it gets invoked in the contexts of classroom speech, where instructors are witnessing a lot of self-censorship, and campus speech, where students chant, carry banners, and exercise civil disobedience.
—
Louis Menand, The New Yorker, 29 Apr. 2024
Hundreds of demonstrators gathered on the grass at UCLA’s Dickson Court, waving banners, listening to speeches and sometimes yelling obscenities at one another.
—Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2024
Freeman delivered the entire speech, adjusted to fete Kidman.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 28 Apr. 2024
In her speech, the Wild actress began by sharing her love and admiration for her friend.
—Catherine Santino, Peoplemag, 28 Apr. 2024
In response, Trump was reduced to making impromptu speeches in the building’s hallway, where his inability to articulate without a teleprompter (or even with one) was made painfully clear.
—Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Apr. 2024
Limiting any of this speech would require pretty significant offenses on behalf of TikTok.
—Maxwell Zeff / Gizmodo, Quartz, 26 Apr. 2024
Political speech stoking fears of an invasion at the southern border is as old as the border itself.
—Jazmine Ulloa, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2024
Powell’s comments followed a speech earlier Tuesday by Fed Vice Chair Philip Jefferson, who also appeared to raise the prospect that the Fed would not carry out three cuts this year in its benchmark rate.
—Christopher Rugaber, Fortune, 17 Apr. 2024
Louis Menand, The New Yorker, 29 Apr. 2024
Hundreds of demonstrators gathered on the grass at UCLA’s Dickson Court, waving banners, listening to speeches and sometimes yelling obscenities at one another.
—Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2024
Freeman delivered the entire speech, adjusted to fete Kidman.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 28 Apr. 2024
In her speech, the Wild actress began by sharing her love and admiration for her friend.
—Catherine Santino, Peoplemag, 28 Apr. 2024
In response, Trump was reduced to making impromptu speeches in the building’s hallway, where his inability to articulate without a teleprompter (or even with one) was made painfully clear.
—Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Apr. 2024
Limiting any of this speech would require pretty significant offenses on behalf of TikTok.
—Maxwell Zeff / Gizmodo, Quartz, 26 Apr. 2024
Political speech stoking fears of an invasion at the southern border is as old as the border itself.
—Jazmine Ulloa, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2024
Powell’s comments followed a speech earlier Tuesday by Fed Vice Chair Philip Jefferson, who also appeared to raise the prospect that the Fed would not carry out three cuts this year in its benchmark rate.
—Christopher Rugaber, Fortune, 17 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'speech.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near speech
Cite this Entry
“Speech.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/speech. Accessed 2 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
speech
noun1
: the communication or expression of thoughts in spoken words
2
a
: something that is spoken
b
: a public talk
3
: a form of communication (as a language or dialect) used by a particular group
4
: the power of expressing or communicating thoughts by speaking
Medical Definition
speech
noun
: the communication or expression of thoughts in spoken words
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