loquacity: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2 - Low frequency, literary/formal registerFormal, literary, sometimes academic. Rare in everyday conversation.
Quick answer
What does “loquacity” mean?
The quality of being very talkative.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The quality of being very talkative; excessive talking.
A tendency to talk at length, often with connotations of being excessively wordy, garrulous, or not knowing when to stop. It can imply a lack of substance behind the many words.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or frequency. Both varieties treat it as a formal, low-frequency noun.
Connotations
Slightly old-fashioned or literary in both dialects. May carry a mild negative judgment (tediousness, lack of conciseness).
Frequency
Equally rare in both BrE and AmE. 'Talkativeness' is a more common, neutral synonym.
Grammar
How to Use “loquacity” in a Sentence
[Verb + ~] exhibit loquacity, demonstrate loquacity[Adj. + ~] amiable loquacity, tedious loquacity[Prep. + ~] a moment of loquacity, known for his loquacityVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “loquacity” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A – 'loquacity' is a noun. The verb form is lacking; one 'exhibits loquacity'.
American English
- N/A – 'loquacity' is a noun. The verb form is lacking; one 'demonstrates loquacity'.
adverb
British English
- He spoke loquaciously about his vintage car collection for an hour.
- She nodded, loquaciously agreeing with every point.
American English
- The witness answered loquaciously, adding unsolicited details.
- He loquaciously defended his controversial thesis.
adjective
British English
- His loquacious uncle dominated the Christmas dinner conversation.
- She gave a loquacious, meandering account of her holiday.
American English
- The loquacious taxi driver told us his life story.
- After the second glass of wine, he became positively loquacious.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might be used in formal feedback: 'His loquacity in meetings often derails the agenda.'
Academic
Found in literary criticism, psychology, or sociology texts describing character traits or social interaction.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual speech. Would sound deliberately fancy or humorous.
Technical
Not technical. Possible in psycholinguistics or personality assessment contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “loquacity”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “loquacity”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “loquacity”
- Misspelling as 'loquasity' or 'loquasicity'.
- Incorrect stress: /ˈlɒkwəsɪti/ instead of /ləʊˈkwæsɪti/.
- Using it in an informal context where it sounds stilted.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Loquacity' is formal, literary, and often implies a more excessive or noticeable degree of talking. 'Talkativeness' is neutral, more common, and can be used in everyday contexts.
It is typically neutral or slightly negative, suggesting excess. Context matters: 'amiable loquacity' is gentle, while 'tedious loquacity' is clearly negative.
Not typically. It specifically refers to spoken communication. For writing, use 'verbosity', 'prolixity', or 'wordiness'.
Using it in an inappropriate register (e.g., casual chat) where it sounds unnatural and pretentious.
The quality of being very talkative.
Loquacity is usually formal, literary, sometimes academic. rare in everyday conversation. in register.
Loquacity: in British English it is pronounced /lə(ʊ)ˈkwasɪti/, and in American English it is pronounced /loʊˈkwɑːsəti/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Suffer from a bout of loquacity”
- “His loquacity knew no bounds.”
- “A barrier of loquacity (metaphorical)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: LOQUacious = talking; LOQUacity = the state of being talkative. Sounds like 'lock' + 'acity' – imagine someone whose words 'lock' you into a long conversation.
Conceptual Metaphor
SPEECH IS A FLUID (loquacity as a flow or stream of words).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would 'loquacity' be LEAST appropriate?