Word
oral
US/ˈɔɹəɫ/
UK/ˈɔːɹəl/
Definitions
01spoken
B1 · Intermediate
adj. spoken rather than written.
adj. relating to or expressed in spoken words rather than written text.
日本語:口頭※
Español:oral
“The local people have a strong oral tradition of storytelling.”
“The historian relied on oral testimonies from survivors to reconstruct the events of the mid-century migration.”
Antonyms
02relating to the mouth
B2 · Upper Intermediate Medicine Technical
adj. relating to the mouth or used in the mouth.
adj. relating to, affecting, or for use in the mouth.
“Good oral health is important for your overall well-being.”
“The patient was prescribed an oral antibiotic to be taken twice daily after meals for the duration of the week.”
Usage
Often used in medical contexts like 'oral hygiene' or 'oral medication'.
03spoken exam
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a spoken test or examination, especially in a language class.
n. an examination conducted by spoken communication rather than in writing.
“I passed the written part of the French test, but I am nervous about the oral.”
“Candidates are required to demonstrate their fluency during a twenty-minute oral conducted by a panel of native speakers.”
Synonyms
04sexual activity
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Informal · Slang · Vulgar
n. a common way to refer to oral sex.
n. an informal ellipsis for oral sex.
“The book discusses how young adults view oral in modern relationships.”
“The survey results indicated a shift in how teenagers categorise oral compared to penetrative intercourse.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “oral” in context.
Verb
01. administer oral medication
“The nurse will administer oral medication to the patient every six hours.”
verb + adj + noun
02. give an oral presentation
“Each candidate was required to give an oral presentation on their research findings.”
verb + adj + noun
Noun
03. oral exam
“The students were nervous about the oral exam, which tested their fluency in French.”
adj + noun
04. oral history project
“She interviewed local veterans for an oral history project about the Second World War.”
adj + noun + noun
05. oral hygiene
“Maintaining good oral hygiene is essential for preventing gum disease and tooth decay.”
adj + noun
06. oral tradition
“The history of the tribe was preserved through a rich oral tradition passed down by elders.”
adj + noun
Preposition
07. by oral communication
“The agreement was reached by oral communication rather than a written contract.”
prep + adj + noun
Confusables
Oral refers exclusively to spoken communication, while verbal relates to the use of words in any form, whether written or spoken.
RememberOral = Mouth. Verbal = Verbs (Words).
Real-World Examples
“It also protects the teeth and oral tissues.” “Alongside oral histories, lahars leave their mark in buried forests and deep, distinct layers of unsorted sediment and rocks.” Etymology
PIE word *h₁óh₃s Early 17th century borrowing from Late Latin ōrālis, from ōs (“the mouth”) + -ālis (“-al”, adjectival suffix).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
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 C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/oral
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0