Word
articulate
Meanings
able to express ideas clearly and fluently
to express an idea, feeling, or plan clearly and carefully
Definition
Able to express ideas clearly and effectively in speech or writing.
If someone is articulate, they can express their thoughts in a clear, well-organized way. The word often describes confident, precise speaking, but it can also apply to writing. As a verb, articulate means to express an idea carefully and clearly.
Examples
- She is articulate enough to explain complex research to non-specialists without oversimplifying it.
- I struggled to articulate my concerns during the call, so I followed up with a carefully written email.
- They sounded articulate in the interview, but they also backed their claims with concrete examples.
- You need to articulate your goals before the team can agree on realistic priorities.
Common mistake
Learners often confuse articulate (clear and fluent) with articulate about, incorrectly adding a preposition where none is needed (e.g., 'He is articulate about his idea').
More at C1 level
- ubiquitous Present, appearing, or found everywhere at the same time.
- xenophobia Xenophobia is a strong dislike or fear of people from other countries or cultures.
- genocide Genocide is the deliberate killing of a large number of people from a particular group in order to …
- conundrum A conundrum is a confusing and difficult problem to solve.
- pretentious Trying to seem more important, intelligent, or cultured than you really are.
More adjectives
- agnostic An agnostic is someone who does not claim to know whether God exists.
- pragmatic Pragmatic means focused on practical results rather than ideals or theories.
- ubiquitous Present, appearing, or found everywhere at the same time.
- cynical Cynical describes believing that people are mainly motivated by self-interest and not sincere.
- apathetic Apathetic means showing little or no interest, concern, or enthusiasm.