audience

noun

A group of people within hearing; specifically, a large gathering of people listening to or watching a performance, speech, etc.

A widespread or nationwide viewing or listening public, as of a TV or radio network or program.

The readership of a book or other written publication.

A following.

A formal meeting with a state or religious dignitary.

(now rare) Hearing; the condition or state of hearing or listening.

(historical) An audiencia (judicial court of the Spanish empire), or the territory administered by it.

Roots

audireaudi- · Latin · to hear

Synonyms for audience

hearingn theatergoern claqueur theatern groundlingn publicadj interviewn auditionn

Synonyms & related words for audience

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of audience — including hearing, theatergoer, claqueur, theater, groundling, public. Dendril is a free visual thesaurus that shows them on an interactive map where stronger matches sit closer to the center — no signup, no ads.

Words related to audience

Explore words related to audience — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include viewers, listeners, spectators, hearers, listenership, crowd, viewership, onlookers. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for audience

Common synonyms for audience include hearing, theatergoer, claqueur, theater, groundling, public, interview, audition — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does audience come from?

The word audience breaks down into one root of Latin origin: the root audi-, from Latin audire (“to hear”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.