Verbatim
adj, adv, noun ·Moderate ·High school level
Definitions
- 1 A word-for-word report of a speech.
- 1 Corresponding with the original word for word.
"Date unknown: Joint Committee on Printing Congress of the United States, General Statement of Procedure for Verbatim Reporting of Proceedings in Senate Chamber, page five:"
- 2 Able to take down a speech word for word, especially in shorthand.
"Some States require voice writers to pass a test and to earn State licensure. As a substitute for State licensure, the National Verbatim Reporters Association offers three national certifications to voice writers: Certified Verbatim Reporter (CVR), the Certificate of Merit (CM), and Real-Time Verbatim Reporter (RVR). Earning these certifications is sufficient to be licensed in States where the voice method of court reporting is permitted."
- 1 in precisely the same words used by a writer or speaker wordnet
- 1 Word for word; in exactly the same words as were used originally. not-comparable
"I have copied his speech verbatim, so this is exactly what he said, word for word."
- 2 Orally; verbally. not-comparable, obsolete
"I […]am not able Verbatim to rehearse the method of my pen"
- 1 using exactly the same words wordnet
Antonyms
All antonymsExample
More examples"For accurate study results questions must be asked verbatim."
Etymology
Attested in English since 1481 (therefore considered a Middle English derivation by some): from Medieval Latin verbātim (“word for word”), from Latin verbum (“word”) + -ātim (adverbial suffix).
Related phrases
More for "verbatim"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.