oration
Americannoun
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a formal public speech, especially one delivered on a special occasion, as on an anniversary, at a funeral, or at academic exercises.
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a public speech characterized by a studied or elevated style, diction, or delivery.
- Synonyms:
- declamation, discourse
noun
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a formal public declaration or speech
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any rhetorical, lengthy, or pompous speech
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an academic exercise or contest in public speaking
Synonym Usage
See speech.
Etymology
Origin of oration
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English oracion, from Latin ōrātiōn- (stem of ōrātiō ) “speech, prayer,” equivalent to ōrāt(us), (past participle of ōrāre “to plead,” derivative of ōr-, stem of ōs “mouth”) + -iōn- noun suffix; see -ion
Explanation
An oration is a formal speech given in public. You might give the oration at the big party celebrating your grandparents’ 50th anniversary. If you’re giving an oration, make sure you show up prepared. An oration is a speech that’s planned in advance rather than made up on the spot. It usually has a formal tone and is presented at a ceremony of some kind. You probably remember nervously sitting through an oration at your graduation ceremony, or you may have listened to a funeral oration celebrating the life of a famous person.
Vocabulary lists containing oration
Memorial Day Words
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Julius Caesar
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Ancient Greece - Introductory
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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.
Instead, Brutus has Antony deliver the oration at Caesar’s funeral in the Forum.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 26, 2025
Gilroy recently joined The Envelope via Zoom to annotate the four-minute oration.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2025
“Avoid emotional oration and loud, impassioned pleas. A well-reasoned and logical presentation without resort to histrionics is easier for listeners to comprehend.”
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 13, 2024
Armstrong's writing is consistently sharp and poignant, but Kendall's funerary oration gives wings to this heavy scene.
From Salon ● May 22, 2023
If the first oration against Catiline can be said to have a dominant figure, though, it is the rhetorical question.
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.
