English Reference
Noun

eloquence

n.
C1 Advanced US /ˈɛɫəkwəns/ UK /ˈɛləkwəns/ elo·quence

n.the ability to speak or write in a way that is very clear, persuasive, and beautiful. You use this word when someone's words are so well-chosen that they move or impress you.

n.the quality of being able to express ideas clearly, persuasively, and beautifully. Often associated with rhetorical skill and the power to influence an audience through language.


SIMPLE

The speaker showed great eloquence in her final speech.

CONTEXTUAL

Despite the difficult subject matter, the professor's eloquence made the lecture both informative and enjoyable.

COMPLEX

The poet's eloquence lies not in the complexity of his vocabulary, but in his ability to capture the quiet beauty of everyday life with simple, resonant imagery.

He was so intimidated by her eloquence when they lunched that he’d feel himself inserting semicolons into his own speech.

The Guardian· 1 Sept 2026

Burnham’s eloquence on valuing “the hard hat as much as the academic cap” earns Gove’s contempt, but it has raised FE spirits.

The Guardian· 24 Aug 2026

From Middle English eloquence, from Old French eloquence, from Latin ēloquentia. Doublet of eloquency, directly from Latin.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Latin ēloquentia
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated