verbal
[ vur-buhl ]
/ ˈvɜr bəl /
adjective
noun
Grammar.
a word, particularly a noun or adjective, derived from a verb.
SYNONYMS FOR verbal
3
spoken.
usage note for verbal
3, 4.
Verbal has had the meaning “spoken” since the late 16th century and is thus synonymous with
oral: He wrote a memorandum to confirm the verbal agreement. Slightly earlier,
verbal had developed the meaning “expressed in words, whether spoken or written (as opposed to actions)”:
Verbal support is no help without money and supplies. Although some say that the use of
verbal to mean “spoken” produces ambiguity, it rarely does so.
Verbal is used in this sense in all varieties of speech and writing and is fully standard. The context usually makes the meaning clear:
No documents are necessary; a verbal agreement (or
contract or
order )
will suffice.
Oral can be used instead of
verbal if the context demands:
My lawyer insists on a written contract because oral agreements are too difficult to enforce.
OTHER WORDS FROM verbal
Words nearby verbal
Example sentences from the Web for nonverbal
British Dictionary definitions for nonverbal (1 of 2)
nonverbal
/ (nɒnˈvɜːbəl) /
adjective
not spoken
the nonverbal signals of body movement
British Dictionary definitions for nonverbal (2 of 2)
verbal
/ (ˈvɜːbəl) /
adjective
noun
verb -bals, -balling or -balled (tr)
slang
(of the police) to implicate (someone) in a crime by quoting alleged admission of guilt in court