utterance

1 of 2

noun (1)

ut·​ter·​ance ˈə-tə-rən(t)s How to pronounce utterance (audio)
 also  ˈə-trən(t)s
1
: something uttered
especially : an oral or written statement : a stated or published expression
2
: vocal expression : speech
3
: power, style, or manner of speaking

utterance

2 of 2

noun (2)

ut·​ter·​ance ˈə-tə-rən(t)s How to pronounce utterance (audio)
ˈə-trən(t)s
archaic
: the last extremity : bitter end

Examples of utterance in a Sentence

Noun (2) many writers have used poetry as a means to give utterance to their deepest thoughts celebrities whose every utterance is treated as though it were newsworthy
Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
Pumping out press releases acclaiming every utterance of Trump is easy money in bright-red districts. Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 21 Feb. 2025 Jean-Baptiste delivers this utterance with the hollowness of someone who’s just come back from a war instead of a housewife and mother who picks fights with employees at a furniture store. Alison Willmore, Vulture, 13 Jan. 2025 At the moment, partisan anger is all the rage, and that finds its utterance. John Scott Lewinski, The Washington Examiner, 28 Mar. 2025 Women possessed by the gods were oracles, predicting the future in cryptic utterances. Vipin Bharathan, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for utterance

Word History

Etymology

Noun (2)

Middle English outraunce, uttraunce, from Middle French outrance, from outrer to go beyond — more at outré

First Known Use

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of utterance was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Utterance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/utterance. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

utterance

noun
ut·​ter·​ance
ˈət-ə-rən(t)s
1
: something uttered
especially : an oral or written statement
2
: the action of uttering with the voice : speech
3
: power, style, or manner of speaking

More from Merriam-Webster on utterance

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