speaker

noun

speak·​er ˈspē-kər 

1

a

: one that speaks

especially : one who uses a language

native speakers of French

b

: one who makes a public speech

c

: one who acts as a spokesperson

2

: the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly

Speaker of the House of Representatives

3

: loudspeaker

speakership

ˈspē-kər-ˌship 

noun

Synonyms

• chair
• chairman
• chairperson
• moderator
• president
• presider
• prolocutor

Examples of speaker in a Sentence

I disagree with the last speaker.

He is an excellent public speaker.

Recent Examples on the Web

Jim Amann is a former speaker of the Connecticut House of Representatives, former House Majority Leader, and former House chair of the Insurance and Real Estate Committee. —Jim Amann, Hartford Courant, 17 June 2025

The Rules Committee has rarely voted contrary to the speaker’s wishes. —Matt Paprocki, Chicago Tribune, 17 June 2025

Many sessions had speakers discussing the real-world usage of XR in their businesses today. —Tim Bajarin, Forbes.com, 16 June 2025

The trip, which Johnson announced last week, would have been one of his most significant and impactful trips since becoming speaker. —Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 16 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing speaker

• guest speaker
• keynote speaker
• native speaker
• public speaker

Rhymes for speaker

• beaker
• meeker
• seeker
• sneaker
• weaker
• loudspeaker

Kids Definition

speaker

noun

speak·​er ˈspē-kər 

1

: a person who speaks

2

: a person who conducts a meeting (as of a legislature)

3

: loudspeaker

Legal Definition

speaker

noun

speak·​er

often capitalized

: the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly

Speaker of the House