audience

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun

A group of people within hearing; specifically, a large gathering of people listening to or watching a performance, speech, etc.
Hearing; the condition or state of hearing or listening.
A widespread or nationwide viewing or listening public, as of a TV or radio network or program.
A formal meeting with a state or religious dignitary.
The readership of a book or other written publication.
A following.
An audiencia (judicial court of the Spanish empire), or the territory administered by it.

Pronunciation

/ˈɔː.di.əns/ /ˈɔːdɪəns/ Audience_(standard_British_pronunciation).ogg /ˈɔ.di.əns/ [ˈɔ.ɾi.əns] /ˈɑ.di.əns/ [ˈɑ.ɾi.əns] en-us-audience.ogg /ˈɒ.di.əns/ [ˈɒ.ɾi.əns] /ˈoː.di.əns/

Word forms

audience audiences

Etymology

From Middle English audience, from Middle French audience, from Old French audience, from Latin audientia, from present participle audiēns (“hearing”), from verb audiō (“to hear”). Doublet of audiencia.

Synonyms

Related words

audition

Derived words

audience effect audience hall audience left audienceless audience-proof audience right audience surrogate audience wave captive audience captive audience meeting cyberaudience fraudience inherited audience intended audience preaudience right of audience target audience unaudienced viewing audience work the audience

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