1. a formal speech or address, especially one given by a person in authority
Usage: formal
2. a judge’s formal address to a defendant before sentencing
Usage: legal

Examples

• The president delivered an allocution to the graduating class.
• The pope’s allocution addressed issues of social justice.
• Before imposing the sentence, the judge gave a brief allocution.
• The defendant was allowed to respond to the court’s allocution.
• The cardinal’s allocution was broadcast to parishes worldwide.
• During the allocution, the judge explained the reasoning behind the verdict.