adj
articulate
ah-TIHK-yuu-layt
adj
1
Able to express thoughts clearly and fluently in speech or writing.
"She gave an articulate answer that impressed the whole panel."
verb
1
To express an idea clearly, or to pronounce words distinctly.
"He struggled to articulate exactly why the plan felt wrong."
"The singer articulated every word so the lyrics came through clearly."
How to Use Articulate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSpeaking or writing clearly — or the act of putting an idea into clear words.
Common pairings
articulate speaker
articulate a view
clearly articulated
Word Forms
more articulate comparative, articulated past tense, articulates plural, articulates singular, most articulate superlative
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Etymology
From Latin articulatus, "jointed" or "distinct," from articulus, "a small joint" — the sense shifted from physical joints to clearly "joined-up" speech.