A spokeswoman is a woman who speaks officially for a group, organization, or cause. When a company needs to explain its decisions to the public, respond to questions from reporters, or share important announcements, it may choose a spokeswoman to deliver these messages. She represents the whole organization with her words.

For example, after a spacecraft launches, NASA might have a spokeswoman explain the mission to news reporters. When a charity wants to tell people about its work, a spokeswoman might appear on television to describe how donations help. The White House has a press secretary who serves as a spokeswoman for the President, answering questions from journalists every day.

The role requires someone who can speak clearly, stay calm under pressure, and accurately represent what the organization thinks and does. A good spokeswoman knows her subject thoroughly and can explain complicated ideas in ways everyone understands.

The word spokesman refers to a man in this role, while spokesperson works for anyone regardless of gender. All three terms mean essentially the same thing: the official voice of a group or organization.