Word
eloquence
Phoneticselo·quence
US/ˈɛɫəkwəns/
UK/ˈɛləkwəns/
Definition
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.
Examples
“The speaker showed great eloquence in her final speech.”
“Despite the difficult subject matter, the professor's eloquence made the lecture both informative and enjoyable.”
“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.”
Examples
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.”
Real-World Examples
“He was so intimidated by her eloquence when they lunched that he’d feel himself inserting semicolons into his own speech.” “Burnham’s eloquence on valuing “the hard hat as much as the academic cap” earns Gove’s contempt, but it has raised FE spirits.” Etymology
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.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- 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
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/eloquence