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An interlocutor is a person who takes part in a conversation, discussion, or dialogue, especially in a formal, academic, professional, or diplomatic setting.
/ˌɪn.tərˈlɒk.jə.tər/ — (Noun)
Definition of Interlocutor
Interlocutor is a formal noun referring to someone who participates in a conversation or discussion. It can also describe a person who represents another individual, organization, or group in a conversation or negotiation. In professional and academic contexts, the word often emphasizes the person with whom someone is communicating.
Synonyms and Antonyms of Interlocutor
Synonyms:
- conversationalist
- conversation partner
- dialogue partner
- discussion partner
There is no clear direct antonym for interlocutor, because the word identifies a participant in an interaction rather than a particular quality or action.
Video of Interlocutor
Interlocutor in Context
During the research interview, the professor carefully listened to each interlocutor and encouraged participants to explain their experiences in their own words. The open-ended questions allowed the conversation to develop naturally rather than following a rigid script.
In an international meeting, the translator served as an interlocutor between the visiting researchers and the local organization. Because the translator understood both languages and the cultural context, communication between the two groups became much easier.
The quality of a discussion often depends on how participants respond to their interlocutors. A thoughtful interlocutor does not simply wait for an opportunity to speak but listens carefully, considers the other person’s ideas, and responds appropriately to what has been said.
Parts of Speech of Interlocutor
- Noun: interlocution: discussion
- Noun: interlocutor: conversation partner
- Adjective: interlocutory: involving discussion
Origin of Interlocutor
Interlocutor entered English in the early 16th century, with recorded use dating to the 1510s. It comes from Latin interloqui, meaning “to speak between” or “to interrupt,” formed from inter (“between”) and loqui (“to speak”). The word therefore originally conveyed the idea of someone who speaks in an exchange or dialogue.
