Diction
noun /ˈdɪk.ʃən/ — The choice and use of words in speech or writing
Definition
The choice and use of words and phrases in speech or writing — the specific vocabulary deployed by a writer or speaker and the way in which words are physically delivered.
Beyond the definition
The vocabulary that reveals the person. Diction is not just what you say — it is which words you reach for, which you avoid, which you didn't know you had a preference about.
Origin & history
From Latin 'dictio' (speaking, speech) — from 'dicere' (to say). Related to 'dictate', 'dictionary', 'diction'. The saying — the specific word chosen to do the saying.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
Her diction was precise — every word chosen rather than arrived at, every sentence knowing where it was going.
The diction of the contract was deliberately plain — legal language made simple enough to be understood by the people it would bind.
Good diction in fiction is invisible — you notice the character, not the words the character uses to reveal themselves.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Diction” when the meaning fits your context: The choice and use of words and phrases in speech or writing — the specific vocabulary deployed by a writer or speaker and the way in which words are physically delivered.
Synonyms
vocabulary, word choice, style, phrasing, expression
Related words
Questions about this word
What does "Diction" mean?
Diction is noun meaning: The choice and use of words in speech or writing. The choice and use of words and phrases in speech or writing — the specific vocabulary deployed by a writer or speaker and the way in which words are physically delivered.
Where does the word "Diction" come from?
From Latin 'dictio' (speaking, speech) — from 'dicere' (to say). Related to 'dictate', 'dictionary', 'diction'. The saying — the specific word chosen to do the saying.