speech

noun

ˈspēch 

1

a

: the communication or expression of thoughts in spoken words

b

: exchange of spoken words : conversation

2

a

: something that is spoken : utterance

b

: a usually public discourse : address

3

a

: language, dialect

b

: an individual manner or style of speaking

4

: the power of expressing or communicating thoughts by speaking

Synonyms

• address
• declamation
• harangue
• oration
• peroration
• talk

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

Outgoing Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell appeared to criticize President-elect Donald Trump's foreign policies during a speech on Saturday. —Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024

For the next 10 minutes, Valvano delivered a speech that still resonates today, mixing humor, motivational anecdotes and inspiring people to cherish their lives. —Tim Casey, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024

The management changes were announced as part of the company’s twentieth anniversary celebrations which also featured a speech from Alibaba and Ant Group founder Jack Ma. —Arjun Kharpal, CNBC, 9 Dec. 2024

While presenting her longtime friend and collaborator Antonoff, 40, with the producer of the decade award at the Variety Hitmakers Brunch on Saturday, Dec. 7, the singer, 39, said in a speech that Antonff's love for wife Margaret Qualley is what finally convinced her to get married herself. —Escher Walcott, People.com, 8 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English speche, from Old English sprǣc, spǣc; akin to Old English sprecan to speak — more at speak

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing speech

• acceptance speech
• figure of speech
• freedom of speech
• free speech
• hate speech
• part of speech
• polite speech
• speech community
• speech day
• speech form
• speech impediment
• speech therapy
• stump speech
• visible speech

Kids Definition

speech

noun

ˈspēch 

1

: 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

ˈspēch 

: the communication or expression of thoughts in spoken words

Legal Definition

speech

noun

: words or conduct used to communicate or express a thought : expression see also commercial speech, freedom of speech, free speech, obscene, symbolic speech