utterance

1 of 2

noun (1)

ut·​ter·​ance ˈə-tə-rən(t)s 

 also  ˈə-trən(t)s

1

: something uttered

especially : an oral or written statement : a stated or published expression

2

: vocal expression : speech

3

: power, style, or manner of speaking

utterance

2 of 2

noun (2)

ut·​ter·​ance ˈə-tə-rən(t)s 

ˈə-trən(t)s

archaic

: the last extremity : bitter end

Synonyms

Noun (2)

• articulation
• expression
• formulation
• phrasing
• statement
• verbalism
• voice
• wording

Examples of utterance in a Sentence

Noun (2)

many writers have used poetry as a means to give utterance to their deepest thoughts

celebrities whose every utterance is treated as though it were newsworthy

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Here’s the latest installment of the Tribune’s Quotes of the Week quiz — this time with excerpts and utterances from the week spanning Dec. 1 to 7. —Grace Miserocchi, Chicago Tribune, 7 Dec. 2024

This is a strange utterance for the President of the United States to make about official business. —Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 2 Dec. 2024

In fact, of the 16 datasets our team located, four are not made available to researchers; six include utterances from fewer than 300 children (five others had no information about the number of children represented). —Ulrich Boser, Forbes, 25 Nov. 2024

With the election only four days away, every utterance is magnified, as Republicans and Democrats battle for any small advantage that might tip the scales in their favor for what’s lining up to be a photo finish. —Jonathan Easley, The Hill, 1 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (2)

Middle English outraunce, uttraunce, from Middle French outrance, from outrer to go beyond — more at outré

First Known Use

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

utterance

noun

ut·​ter·​ance

ˈət-ə-rən(t)s

1

: something uttered

especially : an oral or written statement

2

: the action of uttering with the voice : speech

3

: power, style, or manner of speaking