1
a
: the communication or expression of thoughts in spoken words
b
: exchange of spoken words : conversation
4
: the power of expressing or communicating thoughts by speaking
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
Cuomo leveled the broadside at his opponents during an evening speech at the West Side Institutional Synagogue in Manhattan.
—
Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 2 Apr. 2025
During his speech, Trump praised Apple, Meta, and Nvidia for spending money and investing in the United States.
—Kif Leswing, CNBC, 2 Apr. 2025
Booker, who first came to the Senate in 2013, began the speech at approximately 7 p.m. E.T. on Monday, March 31.
—Madison E. Goldberg, People.com, 2 Apr. 2025
Politics Cory Booker breaks a 68-year-old Senate record with a 25-hour speech
The chairman of the Wisconsin Democratic Party summed up the split among Democrats.
—Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 2 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for speech
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Cite this Entry
“Speech.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/speech. Accessed 9 Apr. 2025.
Kids Definition
speech
noun1
: 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
: the communication or expression of thoughts in spoken words
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