diction means choice and use of words, especially with regard to effective communication. It carries an Arena rating of 1390, earned across 3 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, diction ranks #2,319 of 14,444 for Most Exacting Words, #6,640 of 14,308 for Most Malleable Words, #7,082 of 14,423 for Most Sublime Words, #7,127 of 14,431 for Most Betrayed by Its Sound.
diction is pronounced /ˈdɪk.ʃən/.
Why “diction” is a great word
The strategic selection and use of words and phrases in speech or writing, concerning clarity, effectiveness, and stylistic precision. From late Middle English *diccion*, from Old French *dicïon* or directly from Latin *dictiō* ("a saying, speaking"), from *dīcō* ("to say"), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *deyḱ-* ("to show, to point out"). Unlike "vocabulary," which is the storehouse of words one knows, or "enunciation," the mere mechanics of clear speech, diction is the artful deployment from that storehouse. It is the deliberate pause before "murder" rather than "killing," the decision to describe twilight as "sullen" rather than "dark," and the politician's "collateral damage" where "dead children" would serve—the architecture of meaning built from sound and sense, revealing not just what is said, but who is saying it, and to what end.
Etymology
From late Middle English diccion (“something said; a word or phrase”) (an obsolete sense in Modern English), borrowed directly from Latin dictiō (“a saying, speaking, uttering”) or from Old French dicïon (“word”) (Anglo-Norman dictyoun), from Late Latin dictiō (“word”), both from dīcō (“to say, to talk”) + -tiō, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *deyḱ- (“to show, to point out”).
The modern senses of “choice and use of words” and “clarity of word choice” were likely influenced by additional senses of dictiō.
noun
- Choice and use of words, especially with regard to effective communication.“the identification of the poetic impulse with sonorous diction”
- The effectiveness and degree of clarity of word choice and expression.“His poor diction meant that most of the audience didn't really understand the key points of the presentation.”
- Enunciation, pronunciation.
Words closest in meaning
By meaning, not spelling — each word's AI semantic fingerprint, nearest first.
- locution 86% match — A phrase or expression peculiar to or characteristic of a given person or group of people. vs diction →
- elocution 86% match — The art of speaking, especially public speaking, with expert control of gesture and voice, diction (articulation and word choice), and usage. vs diction →
- eloquence 85% match — The quality of artistry and persuasiveness in speech or writing. vs diction →
- articulate 84% match — To make clear or effective. vs diction →
- elocutio 84% match — One of the five canons of classical rhetoric: the mastery of stylistic elements. vs diction →
- enunciation 84% match — The act of enunciating, announcing, proclaiming, or making known; open attestation; declaration. vs diction →
- verbosity 83% match — The excess use of words, especially using more than are needed for clarity or precision. vs diction →
- lexicon 83% match — The vocabulary of a language. vs diction →