# utterance

/ˈətɝəns/ (US) · /ˈʌtəɹəns/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/utterance
Updated: 2026-05-30

## Definition

a single act of speaking, such as a word, a sentence, or a sound. It can also mean something that is said or written.

For teachers: an instance of speech or writing; a single act of vocalising. In linguistics, it refers to a stretch of speech that is treated as a single unit for analysis.

## Examples

- The child's first utterance was 'mama'.
- The linguist recorded every utterance of the local dialect to study how the language was changing over time.
- While the speaker intended to convey a simple apology, the specific choice of words in that utterance led to a significant misunderstanding between the two parties.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.