What does spokesperson mean?
A spokesperson is someone who speaks for an organization, campaign, public figure, or other group. The person may be an official employee, a representative, or a person selected to communicate a position to the public. “Spokesperson” is especially common in journalism, government, business, and politics, where institutions need to communicate official information. Its main present-day significance is that it can refer to a representative of any gender without drawing attention to that person’s sex or gender. This makes it a useful inclusive alternative to the traditional “spokesman,” although the older term remains familiar and sometimes appears in the names of particular roles. A spokesperson typically communicates the position of the person or body they represent rather than speaking solely as an individual.
nounA person who speaks on behalf of an organization, group, or individual, especially in an official or public capacity. The term is commonly used as a gender-neutral alternative to “spokesman.”
- A person authorized or understood to communicate on behalf of an organization, institution, campaign, or individual.
"The prime minister's spokesperson confirmed that the meeting would take place on Friday."
"A government spokesperson said that the policy would be introduced gradually."
"The musicians’ spokesperson issued a statement acknowledging the reports."
“Spokespeople” is the traditional plural, while “spokespersons” is increasingly common and follows the regular plural pattern of modern English.
"Spokespeople from several governments attended the conference."
In a sentence, “spokesperson” is often the most useful word in the language: it says someone represents a group without announcing their gender.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does spokesperson come from?
“Spokesperson” is a compound of “spoke,” in the sense of speaking or acting for someone, and “person.” It developed in the 20th century as a gender-neutral alternative to the older gendered “spokesman,” from the same compound idea of someone who speaks for another. “Spokespeople” is the traditional irregular plural associated with “spokesperson,” while “spokespersons” is also standard in modern usage.
Related word forms
How spokesperson is actually used
The term is standard in formal and public-affairs contexts. It is often preferred over gendered alternatives when the representative's gender is irrelevant, although “spokesman” and “spokeswoman” remain widely understood and are sometimes used deliberately.
Easily confused with spokesperson
“Spokesman” traditionally refers to a male representative, whereas “spokesperson” is used when the gender is irrelevant or when the representative's gender should not be emphasized.