What does worded mean?
Worded is chiefly an adjective meaning expressed in words, especially phrased with care, precision, or deliberate emphasis. It is frequently used of statements, responses, questions, warnings, and official announcements whose language has been intentionally shaped: a carefully worded notice may avoid ambiguity, while a strongly worded statement communicates disapproval or severity. The related past form is rare compared with the adjective and belongs to the literary verb word, meaning to express or formulate something in language. A further literary sense, having or possessing words, is now uncommon. Although the word may sound somewhat formal, it is fully standard and particularly useful when the exact wording of something matters. Its structure is also revealing: word supplies the Germanic root, while the suffix -ed creates both an adjective and an inflected verb form.
Expressed in words; phrased with care, precision, or deliberate emphasis.
"The committee issued a carefully worded response to the allegations."
Common in formal contexts such as diplomacy, law, official communications, and editorial writing.
The past tense and past participle of word: to express or formulate in words.
"The minister worded the statement cautiously after consulting her advisers."
The verb word is literary and formal, so this inflected form is less common than the adjectival use.
Worded is language made visible: the literal sense of something having been put into words.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of worded
The modern forms are native English formations created by adding the productive suffix -ed to word. Word itself descends from Old English word and belongs to the Germanic family of terms for language or verbal expression. Related Germanic cognates include German Wort, Dutch woord, and Gothic waurd, while modern derivatives such as wording, wordy, and wordless continue the same English root.
Related word forms
How worded is actually used
The adjective is standard in formal and informal English but is especially characteristic of official statements, diplomatic language, legal wording, and other contexts where precision matters. As a verb, word is literary and formal, and the inflected form is much less common than the adjective.
Easily confused with worded
Worded means expressed in words, often with care, whereas wordy means using an excessive number of words.