Standard Lemma guide

locution

noun · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /loʊ̯ˈkju.ʃn̩/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A phrase or expression peculiar to or characteristic of a given person or group of people.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Examples

  • The television show host is widely recognized for his all-too-common locutions.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The use of a word or phrase in an unusual or specialized way.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

Style of discourse or usage, or any particular utterance in such style.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Examples

  • informal locutions

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

A supernatural revelation where a religious figure, statue or icon speaks, usually to a saint.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: lifestyle, religion

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • pardon the expression

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: saying, expression

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: speech, speech communication, spoken communication, spoken language, language, voice communication, oral communication

Narrower terms: Beatitude, logion, calque, calque formation, loan translation, advice and consent, ambiguity, euphemism, dysphemism, shucks, tongue twister, anatomical reference, anatomical, southernism, motto, slogan, catchword, shibboleth, maxim, axiom, epigram, quip, proverb, adage, saw, byword, idiom, idiomatic expression, phrasal idiom, set phrase, phrase, agrapha, sumpsimus

History

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin locūtiō, locūtiōnem (“speech”), from loquor (“speak”). Compare the French cognate locution.

Across languages

Translations

16 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: израз (izraz) — phrase or expression connected to an individual or a group of individuals
  • Bulgarian: идиом — phrase or expression connected to an individual or a group of individuals
  • Finnish: sanontatapa — phrase or expression connected to an individual or a group of individuals
  • Greek: έκφραση (ékfrasi) — phrase or expression connected to an individual or a group of individuals
  • Greek: ιδιωματισμός (idiomatismós) — phrase or expression connected to an individual or a group of individuals
  • Interlingua: locution — phrase or expression connected to an individual or a group of individuals
  • Polish: lokucja — phrase or expression connected to an individual or a group of individuals
  • Polish: powiedzenie — phrase or expression connected to an individual or a group of individuals
  • Polish: wyrażenie — phrase or expression connected to an individual or a group of individuals
  • Polish: zwrot — phrase or expression connected to an individual or a group of individuals
  • Greek: έκφραση (ékfrasi) — use of a word or phrase in an unusual or specialized way
  • Interlingua: locution — use of a word or phrase in an unusual or specialized way
  • Polish: lokucja — use of a word or phrase in an unusual or specialized way
  • Spanish: locución — use of a word or phrase in an unusual or specialized way
  • Finnish: ilmestys — supernatural revelation
  • Polish: lokucja — supernatural revelation