viva voce

1 of 3

adverb

vi·​va vo·​ce ˌvī-və-ˈvō-(ˌ)sē 

or

ˌvē-və-ˈvō-(ˌ)chā 

: by word of mouth : orally

viva voce

2 of 3

adjective

: expressed or conducted by means of speech : orally sense 1

viva voce

3 of 3

noun

: an examination conducted viva voce

called also viva

Did you know?

Viva voce derives from Medieval Latin, where it translates literally as "with the living voice." In English it occurs in contexts, such as voting, in which something is done aloud for all to hear. Votes in Congress, for example, are done viva voce—members announce their votes by calling out "yea" or "nay." While the phrase was first used in English as an adverb in the 16th century, it can also appear as an adjective (as in "a viva voce examination") or a noun (where it refers to an examination conducted orally).

Synonyms

Adjective

• nuncupative
• oral
• spoken
• unwritten
• verbal
• word-of-mouth

Examples of viva voce in a Sentence

Adjective

the students are required to write two papers and take a viva voce examination

Word History

Etymology

Adverb

Medieval Latin, with the living voice

First Known Use

Adverb

1563, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1654, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1842, in the meaning defined above

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Legal Definition

viva voce

adverb or adjective

vi·​va vo·​ce

ˌvī-və-ˈvō-sē, ˌvē-və-ˈvō-ˌchā

: through speech : by word of mouth

testify viva voce

Etymology

Adverb or adjective

Medieval Latin, literally, by living voice