diction

noun

Etymology: From late Middle English diccion (“something said; a word or phrase”) (an obsolete sense in Modern English), borrowed directly from Latin dictiō (“a saying, speaking, uttering”) or from Old French dicïon (“word”) (Anglo-Norman dictyoun), from Late Latin dictiō (“word”), both from dīcō (“to say, to talk”) + -tiō, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *deyḱ- (“to show, to point out”). The modern senses of “choice and use of words” and “clarity of word choice” were likely influenced by additional senses of dictiō.

1. Choice and use of words, especially with regard to effective communication.

   “the identification of the poetic impulse with sonorous diction”

2. The effectiveness and degree of clarity of word choice and expression.

   “His poor diction meant that most of the audience didn't really understand the key points of the presentation.”

3. Enunciation, pronunciation.