speech
noun
ˈspēch 
1
a
: the communication or expression of thoughts in spoken words
b
: exchange of spoken words : conversation
2
a
: something that is spoken : utterance
b
: a usually public discourse : address
3
a
: language, dialect
b
: an individual manner or style of speaking
4
: the power of expressing or communicating thoughts by speaking
Synonyms
- address
- declamation
- harangue
- oration
- peroration
- talk
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 If either wins, one anticipates an acceptance speech that will be the highlight of the evening. 
Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 12 Sep. 2022 Huggins, who coached UC from 1989 to 2005 and joined WVU in 2007, delivered a memorable speech, and became emotional when discussing his family. Dave Clark, The Enquirer, 11 Sep. 2022 Chamber members who bring a drawing prize will get a chance for a 60-second elevator speech. Laura Groch, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Sep. 2022 The two of them spotted Donald Trump, who was holding a yellow legal pad and presumably working on a speech about his victory that further solidified him as the leading GOP candidate. Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 11 Sep. 2022 In an impassioned speech that stoked both applause and upset, Mendez told the board that LGBTQ history plays an important role in U.S. history. Kiara Alfonseca, ABC News, 8 Sep. 2022 Bassist Flea, sporting a hot-pink crew cut, offered an exuberant speech. Tyler Coates, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Aug. 2022 In 2020, Alito gave an online speech for the Federalist Society that was unusual, and perhaps unprecedented, for a modern Justice. Margaret Talbot, The New Yorker, 28 Aug. 2022 Powell is set to offer his latest readout on the heath of the economy on Friday in an annual speech in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. CBS News, 25 Aug. 2022 See More
Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 12 Sep. 2022 Huggins, who coached UC from 1989 to 2005 and joined WVU in 2007, delivered a memorable speech, and became emotional when discussing his family. Dave Clark, The Enquirer, 11 Sep. 2022 Chamber members who bring a drawing prize will get a chance for a 60-second elevator speech. Laura Groch, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Sep. 2022 The two of them spotted Donald Trump, who was holding a yellow legal pad and presumably working on a speech about his victory that further solidified him as the leading GOP candidate. Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 11 Sep. 2022 In an impassioned speech that stoked both applause and upset, Mendez told the board that LGBTQ history plays an important role in U.S. history. Kiara Alfonseca, ABC News, 8 Sep. 2022 Bassist Flea, sporting a hot-pink crew cut, offered an exuberant speech. Tyler Coates, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Aug. 2022 In 2020, Alito gave an online speech for the Federalist Society that was unusual, and perhaps unprecedented, for a modern Justice. Margaret Talbot, The New Yorker, 28 Aug. 2022 Powell is set to offer his latest readout on the heath of the economy on Friday in an annual speech in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. CBS News, 25 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English speche, from Old English sprǣc, spǣc; akin to Old English sprecan to speak — more at speak
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Phrases Containing speech
Kids Definition
speech
noun
ˈspēch
1
: the communication or expression of thoughts in spoken words
2
: something that is spoken : statement
Indeed, there had been so much talk that the steward … informed one and all that such speech went against the will of God … Avi, Crispin: The Cross of Lead
Avi, Crispin: The Cross of Lead3
: a public talk
4
: a form of communication (as a language or dialect) used by a particular group
5
: a way of speaking
And he was quick to grasp the … rhythms of Lewis's speech and match them. Virginia Hamilton, M. C. Higgins the Great
Virginia Hamilton, M. C. Higgins the Great6
: the ability to speak
I was so surprised, I lost my speech.
Medical Definition
speech
noun
ˈspēch
: the communication or expression of thoughts in spoken words
Legal Definition
speech
noun
: words or conduct used to communicate or express a thought : expression see also commercial speech, freedom of speech, free speech, obscene, symbolic speech
speech
noun
1
as in oration
a usually formal discourse delivered to an audience the guest of honor gave a short speech in appreciation of the award Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- oration
- lecture
- talk
- sermon
- monologue
- presentation
- address
- declamation
- peroration
- eulogy
- harangue
- tribute
- tirade
- salutatory
- panegyric
- diatribe
- soliloquy
- rant
- homily
- keynote speech
- keynote address
- monolog
- spiel
- pitch
2
as in language
the stock of words, pronunciation, and grammar used by a people as their basic means of communication wanting to develop a writing system for his people, Sequoya created a system of 86 symbols representing all the syllables of Cherokee speech Synonyms & Similar Words
- language
- vocabulary
- tongue
- dialect
- idiom
- mother tongue
- terminology
- colloquial
- lingo
- slang
- vernacular
- jargon
- argot
- parlance
- idiolect
- patois
- pidgin
- colloquialism
- coinage
- slanguage
- patter
- vernacularism
- regionalism
- localism
- neologism
- acrolect
- shibboleth
- modernism
- cant
- provincialism