locution

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“I could be wrong but …” is the locution of the democratic citizen.

From Slate • Jan. 2, 2026

If the locution “hard-boiled” had not already been coined it would be necessary to coin it now to describe the characters of Dashiell Hammett’s latest detective story.

From New York Times • Oct. 21, 2021

And how about that use of "thumbing their noses"? With that aged locution, the good governor is, without doubt, speaking directly to his demographic.

From Salon • Sep. 18, 2021

In “Going Nucular,” he discussed the use of “was like” by young people as a replacement for “says” or “said” — a modern-day locution that drives grammatical purists mad.

From Washington Post • Aug. 13, 2020

He searched at once the passages quoted from classic English literature as illustrations of usage, and if these did not justify the particular locution under consideration, he rejected and condemned it.

From Recollections of a Varied Life by Eggleston, George Cary