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
After the speech went viral, Springsteen released it as a track with a collection of recordings from that performance.
—
John Scott Lewinski, The Washington Examiner, 13 June 2025
What kind of speech is protected by the First Amendment?
—Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 June 2025
He's lost almost all use of his hands, the majority of his leg function and his speech is beginning to fade.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 June 2025
One source cites a speech Infantino gave in front of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum in Riyadh last month about the importance of investing in women’s football.
—Oliver Kay, New York Times, 12 June 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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John Scott Lewinski, The Washington Examiner, 13 June 2025
What kind of speech is protected by the First Amendment?
—Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 June 2025
He's lost almost all use of his hands, the majority of his leg function and his speech is beginning to fade.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 June 2025
One source cites a speech Infantino gave in front of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum in Riyadh last month about the importance of investing in women’s football.
—Oliver Kay, New York Times, 12 June 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 17 Jun. 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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