skill or eloquence in public speaking.
The evangelist moved thousands to repentance with his oratory.
the art of public speaking, especially in a formal and eloquent manner.
a place of prayer, as a small chapel or a room for private devotions.
(initial capital letter) any of the religious societies of secular priests who live in religious communities but do not take vows.
Also called: Congregation of the Oratory. the religious society of secular priests ( Oratorians ) living in a community founded by St Philip Neri
any church belonging to this society
the Brompton Oratory
the art of public speaking
rhetorical skill or style
1580–90; < Latin ōrātōria, noun use of feminine of ōrātōrius of an orator. See orator, -tory 1
1300–50; Middle English < Late Latin ōrātōrium place of prayer. See orator, -tory 2
An oratory is a long, formal speech. Often one that's a bit puffy and overblown, making you think the speaker really likes the sound of his own voice. Oratory is from the Latin word oratorius for "speaking or pleading." In fact, oratories often leave audiences pleading for an end to the speech. They're the kind of thing evangelical preachers are good at. An oratory is also a little chapel, from the Latin oratorium for "a place of prayer," or a specific group of Roman Catholics, who name their oratories after where they're built, like the Brooklyn Oratory.
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
His oratory and pen helped shape the 14th Amendment’s guarantees of citizenship and equal protection and the 15th’s promise of black male suffrage.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 24, 2025
Obama made his name with soaring oratory about a collective opportunity to fulfill America’s promise and a memoir that was deeply introspective about his role in that fight.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 9, 2024
Her 40-minute speech was not exactly the soaring oratory that the Obamas delivered earlier in the week, but the euphoria and confidence in the arena was palpable.
From BBC • Aug. 23, 2024
So far, the Democratic National Convention has been filled with era-marking oratory.
From Slate • Aug. 22, 2024
Lincoln set a new standard for political oratory, but he didn’t abolish what went before—and the high style is still visible in Lincoln’s successors.
From "Words Like Loaded Pistols" by Sam Leith
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
