English · Word Candidate

verbal

/ˈvɜː.bəl/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: verbals · verbaling · verballing · verbaled

Sense 1

Meaning · English

Of or relating to words.

Adjective

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

Concerned with the words, rather than the substance of a text.

Adjective

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Meaning · English

A verb form which does not function as a predicate, or a word derived from a verb. In English, infinitives, participles and gerunds are verbals.

Noun

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 4

Meaning · English

A spoken confession given to police.

NounRegister: UK

Examples

They were convicted on the evidence of an agent provocateur named Richard Seary, backed up by police verbals from three police officers who gave evidence of six verbals in which the three accused were supposed to have admitted their guilt.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “verbal” mean?

Of or relating to words.

Is “verbal” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.