vocal

[voh-kuhl]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or uttered with the voice.

   the vocal mechanism;

   vocal criticism.

2. rendered by or intended for singing.

   vocal music.

3. having a voice.

   A dog is a vocal, but not a verbal, being.

4. giving forth sound with or as with a voice.

5. inclined to express oneself in words, especially copiously or insistently.

   a vocal advocate of reform.

   Synonyms: outspoken, vociferous

6. Phonetics.

   1. vocalic.

   2. voiced.

noun

1. a vocal sound.

2. a musical piece for a singer, usually with instrumental accompaniment.

vocal

/ ˈvəʊkəl, vəʊˈkælɪtɪ /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or designed for the voice

   vocal music

2. produced or delivered by the voice

   vocal noises

3. connected with an attribute or the production of the voice

   vocal organs

4. frequently disposed to outspoken speech, criticism, etc

   a vocal minority

5. full of sound or voices

   a vocal assembly

6. endowed with a voice

7. eloquent or meaningful

8. phonetics

   1. of or relating to a speech sound

   2. of or relating to a voiced speech sound, esp a vowel

noun

1. a piece of jazz or pop music that is sung

2. a performance of such a piece of music

Other Word Forms

• vocality noun
• vocally adverb
• vocalness noun
• nonvocal adjective
• nonvocally adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of vocal¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin vōcālis, equivalent to vōc- (stem of vōx ) voice + -ālis -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of vocal¹

C14: from Latin vōcālis possessed of a voice, from vōx voice

Example Sentences

In the space between Season 1 and 2, Jenna was pretty vocal about not connecting with the character choices from the first season.

From Los Angeles Times

A bit of Grammy trivia for you: You’ve lost the award for traditional pop vocal album three times, which I thought was a lot until I discovered that Barbra Streisand has lost 13 times.

From Los Angeles Times

Despite North Korea’s vocal embrace of the so-called “new Cold War” order, Russia and China have been reluctant to do the same, analysts said.

From Los Angeles Times

Right up to winning Super Bowl LIX the doubters were still vocal.

From BBC

Linehan, who came to prominence after writing sitcoms Father Ted and the IT Crowd, and has since become a vocal activist who is highly critical of the trans-rights movement.

From BBC

Related Words

• articulate 
• blunt 
• eloquent 
• expressive 
• forthright 
• outspoken 
• strident 
• vociferous