What does "articulation" mean?
A joint or the collection of joints at which something is articulated, or hinged, for bending.
Articulation
/ɑɹˌtɪk.jəˈleɪ.ʃən/ noun
noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A joint or the collection of joints at which something is articulated, or hinged, for bending.
- Grammar: articulation is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: joint, accent, agglomeration, agglutination.
- Useful contrasts: most slurring, ambiguity, confusion.
- Usage evidence: I can't articulate myself very well. I even find it hard to get my tongue around the word "articulation".
How to use "articulation"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "articulation" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "articulation" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "articulation" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "articulation" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "articulation" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "joint" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "articulation", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A joint or the collection of joints at which something is articulated, or hinged, for bending. countable, uncountable
"The articulation allowed the robot to move around corners."
- 2 the act of joining things in such a way that motion is possible wordnet
- 3 A joint or the collection of joints at which something is articulated, or hinged, for bending.; Such a joint in an animalian body, as for example between bones or between exoskeleton segments. countable, uncountable
- 4 (anatomy) the point of connection between two bones or elements of a skeleton (especially if it allows motion) wordnet
- 5 A manner or method by which elements of a system are connected. countable
"In this paper, we make a step forward, by considering term to query articulations, that is articulations relating queries of one source to terms in another"
Show 8 more definitions
- 6 expressing in coherent verbal form wordnet
- 7 The quality, clarity, or sharpness of speech; the movement within the mouth that allows for those things. uncountable
"His volume is reasonable, but his articulation could use work."
- 8 the aspect of pronunciation that involves bringing articulatory organs together so as to shape the sounds of speech wordnet
- 9 The mechanism by which a sound is formed in the vocal tract. countable, uncountable
"manner of articulation"
- 10 the shape or manner in which things come together and a connection is made wordnet
- 11 The manner in which a note is attacked. uncountable
"The articulation in this piece is tricky because it alternates between legato and staccato."
- 12 The interrelation and congruence of the flow of data between financial statements of an entity, especially between the income statement and balance sheet. countable, uncountable
"At the time the outstanding distinction that could be seen between Copeland-Fed on the one hand and Goldsmith-Friend on the other was that the flow-of-funds system explicitly included nonfinancial transactions in the statistical structure in direct articulation with financial flows and stocks."
- 13 The induction of a pupil into a new school or college. countable, uncountable
"The latter reason ranked first in Item 1 as the reason for liking high school this year, giving emphasis to the fact that differences in the new school level may be either a factor of articulation, depending somewhat on how well informed the student is about his new level."
Antonyms
Example
"I can't articulate myself very well. I even find it hard to get my tongue around the word "articulation"."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "articulation"?
Common synonyms include: joint, accent, agglomeration, agglutination, aggregation, allophone.
How do you use "articulation" in a sentence?
I can't articulate myself very well. I even find it hard to get my tongue around the word "articulation".
How do you pronounce "articulation"?
Pronounced /ɑɹˌtɪk.jəˈleɪ.ʃən/.
Etymology
From Middle English articulacioun, from Old French articulacion, from Medieval Latin articulatio. Equivalent to articulate + -ion.