locution means A phrase or expression peculiar to or characteristic of a given person or group of people. It carries an Arena rating of 1497, earned across 2 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, locution ranks #2,319 of 14,444 for Most Exacting Words, #2,374 of 14,451 for Most Whimsical Words, #2,580 of 14,456 for The Improbable, #7,084 of 14,414 for Most Elegant Words.
locution is pronounced /loʊ̯ˈkju.ʃn̩/.
Why “locution” is a great word
A particular word, phrase, or expression, especially one characteristic of a person, group, or style of discourse. From the Latin locūtiō, locūtiōnem ("speech, discourse, way of speaking"), from loquor ("to speak"), borrowed into English in the early 15th century. Unlike "diction" (which concerns the selection and articulation of words) or "idiom" (which denotes a phrase whose meaning transcends its literal parts), locution refers to the specific, signature phrase itself—the verbal fingerprint of a mind. It is the baroque circumlocutions of a Victorian solicitor, the terse two-word dismissals of a particular aunt, or the cryptic mantras of a cult's inner circle—the fossilized music of a mind at work.
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin locūtiō, locūtiōnem (“speech”), from
loquor (“speak”). Compare the French cognate locution.
noun
- A phrase or expression peculiar to or characteristic of a given person or group of people.“The television show host is widely recognized for his all-too-common locutions.”
- The use of a word or phrase in an unusual or specialized way.“So it cannot be supposed that promisings differ from other word-givings in that a word-giver makes a promise only if he or she uses the locution "I promise".”
- Style of discourse or usage, or any particular utterance in such style.“informal locutions”
- A supernatural revelation where a religious figure, statue or icon speaks, usually to a saint.
Words closest in meaning
By meaning, not spelling — each word's AI semantic fingerprint, nearest first.
- diction 86% match — Choice and use of words, especially with regard to effective communication. vs locution →
- idiosyncrasy 85% match — A behavior or way of thinking that is characteristic of a person or a group. vs locution →
- periphrase 85% match — The use of more words than are necessary to express the idea; a roundabout, or indirect, way of speaking; circumlocution. vs locution →
- idiolect 85% match — The language variant used by a specific individual. vs locution →
- elocution 84% match — The art of speaking, especially public speaking, with expert control of gesture and voice, diction (articulation and word choice), and usage. vs locution →
- phraseology 84% match — Study of set or fixed expressions. vs locution →
- elocutio 84% match — One of the five canons of classical rhetoric: the mastery of stylistic elements. vs locution →
- collocation 84% match — The grouping or juxtaposition of things, especially words or sounds. vs locution →