# dictation

/dɪkˈteɪʃən/ (US) · /dɪktˈeɪʃən/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/dictation
Updated: 2026-05-30

## Definition

the act of speaking words for someone else to write down. It is also the process of writing down what someone else is saying.

For teachers: the act of speaking words for another person to transcribe, or the resulting written record of such a process. Often used in educational contexts to test spelling and listening skills.

## Examples

- The teacher gave a dictation to test our spelling.
- During the legal proceedings, the witness provided a dictation of the events that occurred on the night of the accident.
- While digital voice recognition has reduced the need for manual transcription, dictation remains a vital tool in medical and legal fields for ensuring the accuracy of patient records and case notes.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.