tocsin: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal/Literary
Quick answer
What does “tocsin” mean?
An alarm bell or signal used to warn of danger.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An alarm bell or signal used to warn of danger.
A warning sign or signal of impending trouble or disaster.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal; the word is equally rare in both variants.
Connotations
Conveys a sense of historical or literary urgency.
Frequency
Used infrequently in both British and American English.
Grammar
How to Use “tocsin” in a Sentence
tocsin of dangertocsin for warningVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used; might appear in metaphorical contexts like 'a tocsin for market crashes.'
Academic
Found in historical or literary analyses.
Everyday
Very uncommon; mostly in formal writing or speech.
Technical
Not typical; no specific technical usage.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “tocsin”
- Incorrect: 'He tocsined the alarm.' Correct: 'He sounded the tocsin.'
- Using it as a common synonym for alarm without historical context.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is very rare and mostly used in formal or literary contexts.
Yes, but it is often used metaphorically to indicate a warning sign.
It derives from Old French 'toquassen', from 'toquer' (to strike) and 'sen' (bell).
Yes, words like 'alarm', 'warning bell', or 'signal' are more common in modern usage.
An alarm bell or signal used to warn of danger.
Tocsin is usually formal/literary in register.
Tocsin: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtɒk.sɪn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈtɑːk.sɪn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “sound the tocsin”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'toc' like the 'tock' of a clock warning time, and 'sin' as a warning against wrong – a tocsin warns of danger.
Conceptual Metaphor
Tocsin as a metaphor for urgent warning or impending crisis.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary meaning of 'tocsin'?