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

In his speech, Trump raised his campaign’s opening tax bid, which was a pledge to extend all the giveaways to businesses, investors, and high earners that were enacted in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. —John Cassidy, The New Yorker, 9 Sep. 2024

The esteemed actor wowed viewers all season with his fabulous costumes and dramatic speeches on the murderous competition series. —Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 8 Sep. 2024

In the years since the publication of Alexis De Veaux’s Warrior Poet, the first full-length biography of Lorde, popular movements for social justice have taken excerpts from the poet’s essays and speeches. —Danielle Amir Jackson, The Atlantic, 8 Sep. 2024

The speech struck a chord with other founders in the audience. —Bygeoff Colvin, Fortune, 8 Sep. 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