allocution

/alə(ʊ)ˈkjuːʃən/

//alə(ʊ)ˈkjuːʃən// noun

"allocution" is a 10-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“allocution” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as a noun - the kind of word writers most often double-check.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
10
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A formal speech, especially one which is regarded as authoritative and forceful.

Key facts for allocution
PropertyValue
Headwordallocution
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/alə(ʊ)ˈkjuːʃən/
Letters10
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “allocution” sits in English frequency

allocution falls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for allocution is 10 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /alə(ʊ)ˈkjuːʃən/. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 5 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

The misspelling generator found no plausible variants for allocution, since its letter sequence doesn't invite the usual edit-distance slips. This entry stands alone in our confusable dataset, since its spelling is unusual enough that it doesn't cluster with a lookalike.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Latin allocūtiō (“address”). The correct English form is allocution, spelled A-L-L-O-C-U-T-I-O-N.

Definition

  1. 1
    A formal speech, especially one which is regarded as authoritative and forceful.
  2. 2
    The question put to a convicted defendant by a judge after the rendering of the verdict in a trial, in which the defendant is asked whether he or she wishes to make a statement to the court before sentencing; the statement made by a defendant in response to such a question; the legal right of a defendant to make such a statement.
  3. 3
    The legal right of a victim, in some jurisdictions, to make a statement to a court prior to sentencing of a defendant convicted of a crime causing injury to that victim; the actual statement made to a court by a victim.
  4. 4
    A pronouncement by a pope to an assembly of church officials concerning a matter of church policy.
  5. 5
    The mode of information dissemination in which media broadcasts are transmitted to multiple receivers with no or very limited capability of a two-way exchange of information.

Etymology

From Latin allocūtiō (“address”).

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "allocution"?
"allocution" is spelled A-L-L-O-C-U-T-I-O-N. The IPA pronunciation is /alə(ʊ)ˈkjuːʃən/.
What does "allocution" mean?
As a noun, "allocution" means: A formal speech, especially one which is regarded as authoritative and forceful.
How do you pronounce "allocution"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "allocution" is /alə(ʊ)ˈkjuːʃən/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "allocution"?
From Latin allocūtiō (“address”). See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “allocution”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is A-L-L-O-C-U-T-I-O-N - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /alə(ʊ)ˈkjuːʃən/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list