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
Having more data about AAE will help to improve these speech recognition tools, which can often misinterpret AAE.
—
Janice Gassam Asare, Forbes.com, 19 July 2025
According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of this cancer include persistent sores, pain, difficulty swallowing or chewing and changes in speech.
—Jordan Greene, People.com, 18 July 2025
Christopher Waller, a member of the Fed’s governing board, said in a speech in New York City that the economy is showing signs of weakening, with consumer spending slowing and job gains cooling.
—Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 18 July 2025
President Barack Obama and his daughters, Malia, left, and Sasha, watch on television as First Lady Michelle Obama takes the stage to deliver her speech at the Democratic National Convention, in the Treaty Room of the White House, Tuesday night, Sept. 4, 2012.
—Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for speech
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Janice Gassam Asare, Forbes.com, 19 July 2025
According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of this cancer include persistent sores, pain, difficulty swallowing or chewing and changes in speech.
—Jordan Greene, People.com, 18 July 2025
Christopher Waller, a member of the Fed’s governing board, said in a speech in New York City that the economy is showing signs of weakening, with consumer spending slowing and job gains cooling.
—Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 18 July 2025
President Barack Obama and his daughters, Malia, left, and Sasha, watch on television as First Lady Michelle Obama takes the stage to deliver her speech at the Democratic National Convention, in the Treaty Room of the White House, Tuesday night, Sept. 4, 2012.
—Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for speech
Cite this Entry
“Speech.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/speech. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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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