dictation

noun

dic·​ta·​tion dik-ˈtā-shən 

1

a

: prescription

b

: arbitrary command

2

a(1)

: the act or manner of uttering words to be transcribed

(2)

: material that is dictated or transcribed

b(1)

: the performing of music to be reproduced by a student

(2)

: music so reproduced

Examples of dictation in a Sentence

He used a tape recorder for dictation.

Recent Examples on the Web

Some of our physicians are leveraging AI for support with documentation, radiology dictation, breast cancer analysis in radiology and pathology, diabetic retinopathy screening, flagging urgent messages from patients and finally, identifying patients who are likely to become seriously ill. —Ainsley MacLean, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024

Other technology companies are addressing real-time workflow challenges, such as with ambient dictation tools. —Dr. Sai Balasubramanian, M.d., J.d., Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024

The four-core Neural Engine in the Ultra 2 enables on-device Siri processing, the double-tap gesture, and more accurate dictation. —PCMAG, 17 Sep. 2024

In portraits that hang in great museums, Milton gazes skyward, as if receiving his dictation from heaven, and the young women—Anne, Mary, and Deborah—lean toward him, eagerly awaiting his next divine word. —Hillary Kelly, The Atlantic, 10 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Late Latin dictātiōn-, dictātiō "uttering of material to be transcribed, command" (Latin, "dictated draft"), from Latin dictāre "to say repeatedly, say aloud words to be transcribed by another, issue as an order" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of action nouns — more at dictate entry 1

First Known Use

1624, in the meaning defined at sense 2a(2)

Phrases Containing dictation

• take dictation

Kids Definition

dictation

noun

dic·​ta·​tion dik-ˈtā-shən 

1

: the act or process of giving commands

2

a

: the dictating of words

write from dictation

b

: something that is dictated or is taken down from dictation