rhetoric
Americannoun
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(in writing or speech) the undue use of exaggeration or display; bombast.
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the art or science of all specialized literary uses of language in prose or verse, including the figures of speech.
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the study of the effective use of language.
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the ability to use language effectively.
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the art of prose in general as opposed to verse.
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the art of making persuasive speeches; oratory.
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(in classical oratory) the art of influencing the thought and conduct of an audience.
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(in older use) a work on rhetoric.
noun
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the study of the technique of using language effectively
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the art of using speech to persuade, influence, or please; oratory
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excessive use of ornamentation and contrivance in spoken or written discourse; bombast
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speech or discourse that pretends to significance but lacks true meaning
all the politician says is mere rhetoric
Etymology
Origin of rhetoric
First recorded in 1300–50; from Latin rhētorica, from Greek rhētorikḕ (téchnē) “rhetorical (art)”; replacing Middle English rethorik, from Medieval Latin rēthorica, Latin rhētorica, as above
Explanation
Rhetoric is speaking or writing that's intended to persuade. If your goal is to write editorial columns for the New York Times, you should work on your rhetoric. Rhetoric comes from the Greek meaning "speaker" and is used for the art of persuasive speaking or writing. When people listened eagerly to long speeches and studied them in school, rhetoric was generally used positively; now it is often a negative term, implying artfulness over real content. If someone gives a clever speech but doesn't really address the problem, you might say, "That's just a lot of rhetoric."
Vocabulary lists containing rhetoric
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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Argumentative Writing
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Vocabulary of the Common Core
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In a report on the August 29 mutiny, the Timbuktu Institute argued the junta's rhetoric sits uncomfortably with the reality.
From Barron's ● Sep. 1, 2026
Cotlar compared her rhetoric to a conservative anti-communist newspaper publisher he’s been researching: Walter Huss.
From Salon ● Aug. 26, 2026
“The rhetoric was ferocious, but the punch less so,” said Daniel Fried, a former U.S. diplomat now at the Atlantic Council.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026
"I think what we need to be very careful of is misinformation that's circulating on social media, as that rhetoric absolutely fuels community tensions and can lead to protests as we've seen recently," he says.
From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026
The emphasis on rhetoric as part of an education didn’t stress originality.
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.
