Word
articulated
Phoneticsar·tic·u·lat·ed, stress on the second syllable
US/ɑɹˈtɪkjəˌɫeɪtɪd/
UK/ɑːtˈɪkjʊlˌeɪtɪd/
Definitions
01having joints
C1 · Advanced Technical
adj. made with joints that allow a long, stiff object to bend or move easily.
adj. constructed with one or more pivoted joints that allow an otherwise rigid structure to bend or flex.
“The robot has an articulated arm that can reach around corners.”
“The surgeon used an articulated probe to navigate the complex pathways of the patient's vascular system without causing trauma.”
Synonyms
02vehicles with sections
B2 · Upper Intermediate British English
adj. describing a long vehicle, like a bus or truck, that is made of two or more parts joined together.
adj. referring to a vehicle composed of separate sections connected by a flexible joint, allowing for a tighter turning radius.
“An articulated bus is much longer than a normal one but can still turn on city streets.”
“The logistics company upgraded its fleet to articulated lorries to increase cargo capacity while maintaining the maneuverability required for regional depots.”
Usage
Often used before the noun, as in 'articulated lorry' or 'articulated bus'.
Teaching tip
In American English, speakers usually say 'tractor-trailer' or 'semi' instead of 'articulated lorry'.
03clearly spoken
C1 · Advanced Formal
adj. describing speech or sounds that are clear and easy to understand.
adj. consisting of distinct, clear, and meaningful segments of speech.
“The actor's articulated speech made every word audible at the back of the theatre.”
“The linguist analyzed the articulated phonemes of the dialect to determine how they differed from the standard pronunciation.”
04a jointed vehicle
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Technical · British English
n. a large vehicle, like a truck or train, that has a joint in the middle.
n. a vehicle, such as a locomotive or heavy goods vehicle, characterized by a jointed chassis.
“The driver struggled to reverse the articulated into the narrow loading bay.”
“The yard manager directed the articulated toward the secondary warehouse to avoid blocking the main thoroughfare.”
Teaching tip
This noun use is quite rare outside of professional transport and logistics contexts.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“Ghosh perfectly articulated my disappointment about the climate fiction, or cli-fi, I had read.” “But it is becoming harder for teachers to understand whether students actually understood the story, identified the theme and articulated it independently, or whether students simply entered a prompt into an AI tool.” Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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