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mouthpiece

C2
noun

Pronunciation

UK

  • /mˈaʊθpiːs/

US

  • /ˈmaʊθˌpis/

Description

A mouthpiece can be a person who speaks for someone else, like a press secretary speaking for a president or a lawyer speaking for a client. But it also has a literal meaning. Think about a trumpet player: they blow into one to make sound.

The context tells you which meaning is intended. A political analyst might call someone "the mouthpiece of the party," meaning they keep repeating its views. Or a dentist might fit you with one to protect your teeth during sports. It all depends on whether the word is talking about a person who speaks or an object used in the mouth.

Examples

  1. 1

    Musical instrument

    She cleaned the mouthpiece of her trumpet before the concert.

  2. 2

    Diving equipment

    The diver bit gently on the rubber mouthpiece and slipped under the water.

  3. 3

    Political campaign

    The radio host became a mouthpiece for the mayor’s campaign.

    • Pattern

      mouthpiece for + person/group

      a person or organization that publicly repeats or supports that person's or group's views, often too closely

  4. 4

    Government media

    Critics called the newspaper a government mouthpiece.

  5. 5

    Workplace politics

    I can explain the policy, but I don’t want to be used as management’s mouthpiece.

Forms and spellings

2 forms open this card.

Main spelling

  • mouthpiecenoun

Forms

  • mouthpiecespluralnoun