Expression

How to spell expression

10 letters · 3 syllables

How to pronounce expression

Say the part in capitals loudest.

What does expression mean?

1. nounA word or group of words used together to convey a particular meaning.
2. nounThe look on a person's face that shows a feeling or mood.
3. nounThe act of making thoughts, feelings or ideas known through words or actions.
4. nounA combination of numbers, symbols and operators that represents a value in mathematics.

Expression in a sentence

• The report used a vague expression that nobody could interpret.

• A worried expression crossed his face when he opened the bill.

• The policy protects freedom of expression for all employees.

• The student simplified the algebraic expression before solving it.

• That old expression is rarely heard in everyday speech now.

• Her blank expression gave nothing away during the interview.

Where does expression come from?

Language of origin: Latin

This word traces back to the Latin verb exprimere, which literally meant 'to press out' or 'to squeeze out', built from ex- meaning 'out' and premere meaning 'to press'. The same premere root sits inside everyday relatives such as 'press', 'compress' and 'impress', all of which carry that sense of applying force. From the idea of pressing something out came the figurative notion of pressing thoughts or feelings out into words, gestures or art. The Latin noun expressio passed into Old French as expression and entered English in the 1400s, first describing the act of making something known and later the words, looks and symbols used to do so. The doubled 's' in the modern spelling preserves the press root and is the spot writers most often need to watch.

How the word is built

• ex- (out)
• press (from Latin premere: to press)
• -ion (noun suffix forming the result or act)