noun
diction
DIK-shuhn/ˈdɪkʃn/
The manner in which words are chosen and expressed.
The speaker's clear diction makes every word easy to understand.
Etymology
From dicere, “to say,” the noun could denote a saying, a word, or a style of delivery. The selected sense concerns how words are chosen and spoken, rather than simply what is said.
In context
Let’s be crystal clear, with government-grade diction: A friendship is not a merger, and a border isn’t fiction.
More examples
- The letter's formal diction suits the serious occasion.
- Her poems use everyday diction rather than elaborate language.
- The actor practices his diction so the audience can understand him.
Forms
diction
Similar words
- wording
- Emphasizes the words selected, rather than how they are pronounced.
- enunciation
- Focuses on clear pronunciation, not the choice of words.