The part of an instrument you put in your mouth to play it, or a person who speaks on behalf of a group or organization.
Compound of 'mouth' (Old English 'muð') and 'piece' (from Old French 'piece'). Originally literal in the 1600s for instrument parts; the figurative sense developed in the 1800s.
The human mouth is so important to identity that we use it metaphorically constantly—a 'mouthpiece' speaks for others because in politics and law, controlling who speaks is controlling what gets heard.
Historically male-coded leadership term; women speakers/representatives sometimes diminished as 'just the mouthpiece' to undermine authority and credit.
Use neutrally for authorized speaker/representative; if discussing power dynamics, clarify distinction between figurehead and actual decision-maker.
["spokesperson","representative","voice"]
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.