Allocution
[al-ə-KYOO-shən]
Part of speech: noun
Origin: Latin, 17th century
1.
A formal speech giving advice or a warning.
Examples of Allocution in a sentence
"Before I left for college, my father sat me down for an allocution full of tips from his own days as a student."
"After several practical jokes disrupted school events, the principal gave an allocution cautioning against future student pranks."
About Allocution
This word comes from the Latin “allocutio(n-),” from “alloqui” (meaning “speak to”).
Did you Know?
“Allocution,” which refers to a formal address sometimes taking the form of an instructive lecture, is easily confused with its homophone “elocution.” The spoken words sound very similar, though they bear no similarity in definition, as “elocution” refers not to a formal speech but rather to the ability to express one’s self with practiced skill in public speaking. The difference between the two words is clear in their roots: “Elocution” is based on the Latin “ēlocūtiō,” meaning “oratorical delivery,” while “allocution” is from the Latin “allocūtiō,” meaning “address.” In modern English, “allocution” is the rarer of the two words, while “elocution” is still used to denote a speaker’s ability.
