English Meaning & Definitions
The act of expressing one's thoughts, opinions, or intentions clearly, honestly, and directly, without mincing words or using euphemisms.
- “The CEO's plain speaking during the town hall meeting won the respect of the employees.”
- “Politicians are often criticized for avoiding plain speaking when addressing complex economic issues.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
English Antonyms & Opposites
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “plain speaking”.
Derived from the adjective 'plain' (meaning clear, straightforward, or uncomplicated, stemming from Old French 'plain' and Latin 'planus') combined with 'speaking' (the act of uttering words). The compound phrase reflects the cultural valuation of honesty, directness, and transparency in communication, contrasting with obfuscation or diplomatic vagueness.
Think of 'plain' as an open, flat field where everything is clearly visible, combined with 'speaking'—talking without hiding anything behind hills or trees.
Frequently Asked Questions About “plain speaking”
1. What is the meaning of “plain speaking” in English?
In English, plain speaking (noun) is defined as: “The act of expressing one's thoughts, opinions, or intentions clearly, honestly, and directly, without mincing words or using euphemisms.”.
2. How do you use “plain speaking” in a sentence?
“The CEO's plain speaking during the town hall meeting won the respect of the employees.”
3. What are English synonyms of “plain speaking”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “plain speaking”?
Derived from the adjective 'plain' (meaning clear, straightforward, or uncomplicated, stemming from Old French 'plain' and Latin 'planus') combined with 'speaking' (the act of uttering words). The compound phrase reflects the cultural valuation of honesty, directness, and transparency in communication, contrasting with obfuscation or diplomatic vagueness.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
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A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.
A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.