The act or manner of speaking to, or of addressing in words.

An address; a hortatory or authoritative address as of a pope to his clergy.

The right of a convicted person to address the court directly prior to the imposition of sentence.

The right a victim has to make a statement (written or spoken) at felony sentencing hearings and parole hearings.

(rhetoric) a formal or authoritative address that advises or exhorts

invitation to a defendant, before imposition of sentence, to address the court, in mitigation of punishment or for arrest of judgment; act of addressing or exhorting

Court's formal inquiry into whether there is legal cause for not pronouncing judgment against a defendant. Often used to provide a defendant with an opportunity to make a statement on his or her own behalf and present evidence that might mitigate his sentence.

a formal address by a trial judge to the parties on the record to find out if they understand the terms of a stipulation of settlement

Generally, to allocute in law means "to speak out formally." In the field of apologetics, allocution is generally done in defense of a belief. In politics, one may allocute before a legislative body in an effort to influence their position on an issue.