Word
diction
Phoneticsdic·tion, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈdɪkʃən/
UK/dˈɪkʃən/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. the choice of specific words in a piece of writing or speech. It helps show the writer's style, their level of education, or the mood they want to create.
n. the particular choice of words used by a writer or speaker. Often used to describe the stylistic quality of a text or the register of a performance.
Examples
“The poet's diction is very formal and precise.”
“The playwright's diction shifts from casual street language to formal legal terms to highlight the tension between the two characters.”
“While the plot of the novel is relatively simple, the author's diction is so rich and evocative that it creates a vivid sense of the historical setting.”
Examples
simple
“The poet's diction is very formal and precise.”
contextual
“The playwright's diction shifts from casual street language to formal legal terms to highlight the tension between the two characters.”
complex
“While the plot of the novel is relatively simple, the author's diction is so rich and evocative that it creates a vivid sense of the historical setting.”
Real-World Examples
“You find your tribe by mimicking the peculiarities of their diction.” 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.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- 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 C1.945–990EikenEikenTest in Practical English ProficiencyThe English proficiency test from the Eiken Foundation of Japan, widely taken by Japanese students. Grades run from 5 to 1, with Pre-1 and Pre-2 between them.Grade 1
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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