articulation

/ɑːtɪkjʊˈleɪʃən/
nounIntermediate
formal

The clear and effective expression of thoughts or ideas through speech or writing

The politician's articulation of policy changes won over the audience.

The way the politician clearly explained the policy changes convinced the audience.

💡

Often used in contexts where clarity and precision of communication are valued.

🏥Medicine
technical

The way in which the bones of the body are connected, especially the joints

The doctor examined the patient's articulation of the knee joint.

The doctor checked how the bones in the patient's knee were connected.

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In medicine, this refers to the structural connections between bones.

technical

The production of speech sounds, especially the movement of the tongue, lips, and jaw

The speech therapist worked on improving the child's articulation of consonants.

The therapist helped the child pronounce consonants more clearly.

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In linguistics, this refers to the physical mechanics of speech production.

Collocations

clear articulationclear and precise expressionarticulation of ideasthe way thoughts are expressedarticulation disordera condition affecting speech clarity

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Phrases

articulate wellphrase
to express thoughts clearly and effectively
articulation therapyphrase
speech therapy to improve clarity

💡Pro Tip

Formal vs. Informal Use

In formal contexts, 'articulation' emphasizes clarity and precision, while in informal contexts, it may simply mean 'expression'.

Gold Rule

Context Matters

Always consider the context when using 'articulation'—it can refer to speech, writing, or even physical joints.

📖Word Origin

From Latin 'articulatio', meaning 'a joint' or 'division into parts', from 'articulare' (to divide into joints).

📝Usage Notes

While often used in speech and writing contexts, it also has technical meanings in medicine and linguistics.

Word Breakdown

articul-
joint or division
root
+
-ation
the act or process of
suffix
English Dictionary