diction

UK: /ˈdɪkʃ^ən/ US: /ˈdɪkʃən/ ,(dik′shən)

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

dic•tion /ˈdɪkʃən/   n. [uncountable]

1. style of speaking or writing:
   The student's poor diction prevented the professor from understanding her paper.
2. the accent, inflection, and tone that a speaker or singer has;
   enunciation:
   the actress's clear diction.

See -dict-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

dic•tion  (dik′shən), n. 

1. style of speaking or writing as dependent upon choice of words:
   good diction.
2. the accent, inflection, intonation, and speech-sound quality manifested by an individual speaker, usually judged in terms of prevailing standards of acceptability;
   enunciation.

• Late Latin dictiōn- (stem of dictiō) word, Latin: rhetorical delivery, equivalent. to dict(us) said, spoken (past participle of dīcere) + -iōn- -ion
• late Middle English diccion 1400–50

dic′tion•al, adj. 
dic′tion•al•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 1. usage, language.
  Diction, phraseology, wording refer to the means and the manner of expressing ideas.
  Diction usually implies a high level of usage; it refers chiefly to the choice of words, their arrangement, and the force, accuracy, and distinction with which they are used:
  The speaker was distinguished for his excellent diction; poetic diction.
  Phraseology refers more to the manner of combining the words into related groups, and esp. to the peculiar or distinctive manner in which certain technical, scientific, and professional ideas are expressed:
  legal phraseology.
  Wording refers to the exact words or phraseology used to convey thought:
  the wording of a will.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

diction / ˈdɪkʃən/ noun

1. the choice and use of words in writing or speech
2. the manner of uttering or enunciating words and sounds; elocution

Etymology: 15th Century: from Latin dictiō a saying, mode of expression, from dīcere to speak, say