dictation

UK: /dɪkˈteɪʃ^ən/ US: /dɪkˈteɪʃən/ ,(dik tā′shən)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

dic•ta•tion /dɪkˈteɪʃən/  n. 

1. the act of dictating:
   [uncountable] had a test in French dictation.
   [countable] Madame is always giving us dictations.
2. the act of commanding:
   [uncountable] There's no need for dictation from above.

See -dict-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

dic•ta•tion  (dik tā′shən), n. 

1. the act or manner of dictating for reproduction in writing.
2. the act or manner of transcribing words uttered by another.
3. words that are dictated or that are reproduced from dictation.
4. Music and Dance the playing or singing of music to be notated by a listener, esp. as a technique of training the ear.
5. Music and Dance music notated from dictation.
6. the act of commanding arbitrarily.
7. something commanded.

• Latin dictāt(us) (see dictate) + -iōn- -ion
• Late Latin dictātiōn- (stem of dictātiō) a dictating
• 1650–60

dic•ta′tion•al, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

dictation / dɪkˈteɪʃən/ noun

1. the act of dictating material to be recorded or taken down in writing
2. the material dictated
3. authoritative commands or the act of giving them