English Reference
adjective

eloquent

adj.
US /ˈɛɫəkwənt/ UK /ˈɛləkwənt/ elo·quent

  1. 01 C1 Advanced Formal

    able to use language clearly and effectively to persuade or move people.

    demonstrating fluent, forceful, and appropriate expression in speech or writing; characterized by persuasive power.

    Simple

    The president gave an eloquent speech that inspired the whole country.

    In context

    Her eloquent defense of civil liberties resonated deeply with the jury, ultimately swaying the verdict in her client's favor.

    inarticulatetongue tied
  2. 02 C1 Advanced Literary

    clearly showing a feeling or meaning without needing many words.

    vividly or movingly expressive of an emotion or idea, often through non-verbal means or symbolic actions.

    Simple

    He didn't say anything, but his sad smile was eloquent.

    In context

    The abandoned playground stood as an eloquent reminder of the town's declining population over the last decade.

    unexpressivevacant
  3. 03 C2 Proficiency Technical Medicine

    describes parts of the brain that control important things like speaking or moving.

    pertaining to areas of the cerebral cortex that, if removed, result in a loss of sensory processing, linguistic ability, or paralysis.

    Simple

    The surgeon had to be careful not to damage the eloquent areas of the brain.

    In context

    Preoperative mapping is essential when a tumor is located near eloquent cortex to minimize the risk of permanent neurological deficit.

    Usage

    Usually appears before the noun 'cortex' or 'areas'.

    non eloquent

He’s the eloquent firebrand with a messianic gleam in his eye; the Marxist intellectual in open-necked patterned shirts.

The Guardian· 10 Aug 2026

Yet they remain wordsmiths in the dark; eloquent but inexperienced, knowledgeable but ungrounded.

Ars Technica· 13 Jul 2026

From Old French eloquent, from Latin eloquens (“speaking, having the faculty of speech, eloquent”), present participle of eloquor (“to speak out”), from e (“out”) + loquor (“to speak”).

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

This entry
Origin Latin eloquens
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Frequent
Updated