Meaning & use
a spokesperson
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountable
a person chosen to speak officially for a group, organization, or government.
Grammar: Countable noun; use 'a spokesperson' for one, 'spokespeople' or 'spokespersons' for more than one.
Patterns
- a spokesperson for something
- act as a spokesperson
A spokesperson for the company said the new product would launch next month.
The police spokesperson gave a brief statement to the reporters.
She was chosen as the spokesperson for the environmental campaign.
Word forms
| plural | spokespeople |
|---|---|
| plural | spokespersons |
Common combinations
- company spokesperson
- The company spokesperson refused to comment.
- government spokesperson
- A government spokesperson announced the new policy.
- spokesperson for
- He is the spokesperson for the labor union.
- act as a spokesperson
- She acted as a spokesperson for the group.
Synonyms and how they differ
- spokesman
- Specifically a male spokesperson; now often avoided in favor of 'spokesperson' unless the person is known to be male.
- spokeswoman
- Specifically a female spokesperson; used when the person is known to be female.
- representative
- A broader term for someone who acts or speaks for others, not necessarily in a media role.
Word family
- spokesmanship noun
- The skill or role of being a spokesperson (rare).
Commonly confused: a spokesperson or spokesman?
a spokesperson vs spokesman
'Spokesman' is male-specific; 'spokesperson' is gender-neutral. Use 'spokesperson' unless you know the person is male.
Practice
The ______ for the hospital said the new wing would open in June.
Choose one answer.
'Spokesperson' is the correct term for someone who speaks officially for an organization. 'Speaker' often refers to someone giving a speech, 'talker' is informal and not official, and 'sayer' is not a common noun for this meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “a spokesperson”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.