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
Vance also opined that mass immigration and laws that target speech are the greatest threats to the European continent.
—
Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2025
The all-star concert was held at the OVO Wembley Arena and featured a series of performances and speeches by 150 leading artists and figures from around the world, including Eno, Blur’s Damon Albarn, Paul Weller, PinkPantheress and Palestinian artists Elyanna and Saint Levant.
—Thomas Smith, Billboard, 18 Sep. 2025
Opinions and speech about Kirk's killing have proven particularly volatile across American culture in the past week.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 18 Sep. 2025
The move comes as the president, his administration and political party have stepped up their effort to police speech about Kirk’s death.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 18 Sep. 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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Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2025
The all-star concert was held at the OVO Wembley Arena and featured a series of performances and speeches by 150 leading artists and figures from around the world, including Eno, Blur’s Damon Albarn, Paul Weller, PinkPantheress and Palestinian artists Elyanna and Saint Levant.
—Thomas Smith, Billboard, 18 Sep. 2025
Opinions and speech about Kirk's killing have proven particularly volatile across American culture in the past week.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 18 Sep. 2025
The move comes as the president, his administration and political party have stepped up their effort to police speech about Kirk’s death.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 18 Sep. 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 20 Sep. 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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