locution

/loʊ̯ˈkju.ʃn̩/

//loʊ̯ˈkju.ʃn̩// noun

"locution" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“locution” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
8
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - A phrase or expression peculiar to or characteristic of a given person or group of people.

Corpus desk

Index EN-locution · locution · English

locution · unranked · 0 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-UNRANKED Unranked
  • LEN-LONG 8 letters
  • VOW-4 4 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-0 0 variants
  • BOOK-THIN "L" thin
  • PHOTO-UNK Peer pending

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Key facts for locution
PropertyValue
Headwordlocution
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/loʊ̯ˈkju.ʃn̩/
Letters8
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Long-tail rank of “locution” in English

locutionranks outside the top 100,000 English headwords, in the long tail of specialist, archaic, or seldom-used vocabulary, exactly the territory where a reader stops mid-sentence to double-check spelling.

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

Rare enough to double-check

locution is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as anoun, transcribed /loʊ̯ˈkju.ʃn̩/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 4 senses are on record.

No generated misspelling entries exist for locution in our index, suggesting the orthography follows predictable English patterns. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, suggesting its spelling stands apart enough that readers rarely confuse it with something else.

Etymologically, the entry records: Borrowed from Latin locūtiō, locūtiōnem (“speech”), from loquor (“speak”). Compare the French cognate locution. The correct English form is locution, spelled L-O-C-U-T-I-O-N.

Definition

  1. 1
    A phrase or expression peculiar to or characteristic of a given person or group of people.
  2. 2
    The use of a word or phrase in an unusual or specialized way.
  3. 3
    Style of discourse or usage, or any particular utterance in such style.
  4. 4
    A supernatural revelation where a religious figure, statue or icon speaks, usually to a saint.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how locution appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. The television show host is widely recognized for his all-too-common locutions.
  2. Another way fathers impact sons is that sons, once their voices have changed in puberty, invariably answer the telephone with the same locutions and intonations of their fathers.

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin locūtiō, locūtiōnem (“speech”), from loquor (“speak”). Compare the French cognate locution.

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 "locution"?
"locution" is spelled L-O-C-U-T-I-O-N. The IPA pronunciation is /loʊ̯ˈkju.ʃn̩/.
What does "locution" mean?
As a noun, "locution" means: A phrase or expression peculiar to or characteristic of a given person or group of people.
How do you pronounce "locution"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "locution" is /loʊ̯ˈkju.ʃn̩/. 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 "locution"?
Borrowed from Latin locūtiō, locūtiōnem (“speech”), from loquor (“speak”). Compare the French cognate locution. 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.

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

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list