Definition

A person who studies or specializes in the correct pronunciation of words.

Example

The orthoepist helped the students improve their pronunciation in English class.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of an orthoepist?

No, I haven't. What do they do?

They're specialists in pronunciation and spelling, especially from the past.

That sounds interesting! I wonder how they would spell words today.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Orthoepist is formed from "ortho-" (from Greek "orthos", meaning correct or straight) and "epist" (from Greek "epistēmē", meaning knowledge or understanding). An orthoepist is someone who has knowledge of correct pronunciation.

Memory Tip

Think of 'correct' ('ortho-') pronunciation knowledge ('epist') — that's what an orthoepist specializes in.

Visually Confused Words