Diction

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈdɪk.ʃən/

Definitions

1. The choice and use of words and phrases in speech or writing, especially with regard to clarity and effectiveness
2. The specific selection and arrangement of words in verbal or written communication, emphasizing precision and stylistic impact
3. The manner in which words are chosen and utilized in conversation or literature, reflecting tone and coherence

Etymology: Latin "dictiō" meant "a saying, speaking, uttering," and its root "dīcō" means "to say, to talk," so the English word began as nothing more than the act of speaking. The Latin form was built from "dīcō" plus the suffix "-tiō," which turns a verb into a noun of action. In late Middle English, "diccion" still carried that broad sense of something said, a word or phrase, though that meaning has since dropped out of common use. The modern sense of "choice and use of words" developed later. Latin "dictiō" had also acquired senses of manner of delivery, style, and the art of speaking, and these likely shaped how English came to focus on the selection and handling of words. A speaker's diction is therefore the same idea as the Latin "dictiō," just narrowed to the quality of word choice.

Synonyms: enunciation, articulation, pronunciation, language

Antonyms: mumble, slur