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
Saturday afternoon will feature the main event, when the four former players will take the stage, unveil their Hall of Fame busts and give speeches.
—
Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 31 July 2025
The event historically has featured a major policy speech from the chair.
—Jeff Cox, CNBC, 30 July 2025
The TikTok was a scene from the 2019 movie, The Hate U Give, in which the character, Maverick Carter, gives a speech to his family.
—Jason Pham, StyleCaster, 30 July 2025
The church's chef, Odeh, gave a small speech, telling students this community is an act of defiance in itself for all those who want to separate and isolate the others.
—Lily Kepner, Austin American Statesman, 30 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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Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 31 July 2025
The event historically has featured a major policy speech from the chair.
—Jeff Cox, CNBC, 30 July 2025
The TikTok was a scene from the 2019 movie, The Hate U Give, in which the character, Maverick Carter, gives a speech to his family.
—Jason Pham, StyleCaster, 30 July 2025
The church's chef, Odeh, gave a small speech, telling students this community is an act of defiance in itself for all those who want to separate and isolate the others.
—Lily Kepner, Austin American Statesman, 30 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 4 Aug. 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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