Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of oratorical
First recorded in 1610–20; orator, orator(y) 1 + -ical
Explanation
The word oratorical describes the way someone speaks in public. If you have a terribly sore throat, your oratorical skills may suffer. The adjective oratorical comes from a Latin root meaning "to speak before a court or assembly." Whether you're speaking to a court, or just your Spanish class, if you're giving a presentation or a speech you're using your oratorical skills. You might use oratorical tricks like eye contact with your audience or excellent posture, or model your speaking on oratorical heroes like Martin Luther King, Jr.
Vocabulary lists containing oratorical
The Madman of Piney Woods
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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.
And as Herndon pointed out, “in time Lincoln’s style changed: he became more eloquent but with less gaudy ornamentation. He grew in oratorical power, dropping gradually the alliteration and rosy metaphor of youth.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 7, 2025
It’s an astounding amount of influence for a man who has never won the Democratic presidential nomination and doesn’t possess once-in-a-generation oratorical skills.
From Slate • Aug. 22, 2024
The former president, known for his bombastic oratorical style, did not address the court once during his arraignment, even to enter a plea.
From BBC • Jun. 13, 2023
Visually, and in their oratorical skills, both men invoked the passion and unifying power of civil rights-era leaders while speaking to the continued inequity and political stalemates of the 21st century.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2023
From her decorated desk to her oratorical speech to her performance on the football field, she was there for all to see.
From "Stargirl" by Jerry Spinelli
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.
