C1nounformallanguageacademic
US/ˈʌt.ər.əns/
UK/ˈʌt.ər.əns/
something that a person says, especially a short spoken statement
In context
Linguists study how children produce their first utterances.
The speaker's last utterance was a joke that made everyone laugh.
Her public utterances on the subject were always careful.
Words that go with utterance
adjective + noun
- a short utteranceThe baby's first short utterance was "mama".
- a public utteranceEvery public utterance by the minister was reported.
- spoken utteranceThe software analyzes each spoken utterance.
noun + preposition
- the meaning of an utteranceThe meaning of an utterance often depends on context.
verb + noun
- produce an utteranceLearners can produce an utterance but not always a correct one.
Common mistakes
Incorrect:
an utterancesCorrect: an utterance