What does gesticulatory mean?
Gesticulatory is an adjective describing gestures that accompany, emphasize, or help express speech. It refers not merely to movement, but to movement used as part of communication: a gesticulatory speaker punctuates remarks with their hands, while a gesticulatory style makes bodily expression conspicuous or rhetorically significant. The word can be neutrally descriptive in discussions of rhetoric, linguistics, and nonverbal communication, though it often carries the implication of energetic or theatrical gesturing. It is more formal and literary than everyday alternatives such as gestural and less commonly encountered in casual speech. Gesticulatory is also useful when the specific relationship between gesture and speech matters. Gesticulate is the corresponding verb, while gesticulation names the act of making communicative gestures. Together, these forms distinguish the behavior itself from the manner or communicative role of the movements involved.
adjectiveRelating to or characterized by gestures used to accompany, reinforce, or express speech.
- Relating to or characterized by gestures that accompany, emphasize, or convey speech.
"The speaker's energetic gesticulatory style made every point feel theatrical."
"His gesticulatory explanations were lively, though occasionally distracting."
"The researchers compared the gesticulatory behavior of speakers in formal and informal interviews."
A gesticulatory sentence has punctuation in the hands as well as in the voice.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of gesticulatory
Gesticulatory comes through Latin gesticulatorius, a form meaning relating to gesturing or to a gesticulator. The Latin family is based on gesticulari, “to make gestures,” and ultimately on gestus, “gesture, bearing, or manner of carrying oneself,” associated with gerere, “to carry or perform.” The English relatives include gesture, gesticulate, and gesticulation, all of which preserve the central idea of expressive bodily movement.
How gesticulatory is actually used
Chiefly formal, literary, or analytical. It is uncommon in everyday conversation and can suggest gestures that are conspicuous, expressive, or closely tied to speech.
Easily confused with gesticulatory
Gesticulate is a verb meaning to make expressive gestures, whereas gesticulatory is an adjective describing such gestures or their manner.