oratory

[ awr-uh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee, or- ]

/ ˈɔr əˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i, ˈɒr- /

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noun

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.

OTHER WORDS FOR oratory

1 rhetoric, delivery, declamation.

See synonyms for oratory on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of oratory

1580–90; <Latin ōrātōria, noun use of feminine of ōrātōrius of an orator. See orator, -tory¹

Words nearby oratory

oration, orator, Oratorian, oratorical, oratorio, oratory, oratrix, orb, orbicular, orbiculate, Orbison

Other definitions for oratory (2 of 2)

oratory²

[ awr-uh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee, or- ]

/ ˈɔr əˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i, ˈɒr- /

noun, plural or·a·to·ries.

a place of prayer, as a small chapel or a room for private devotions.

(initial capital letter)Roman Catholic Church. any of the religious societies of secular priests who live in religious communities but do not take vows.

Origin of oratory

1300–50; Middle English <Late Latin ōrātōrium place of prayer. See orator, -tory²

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use oratory in a sentence

Mario Cuomo’s charisma and oratory could carry the day in his heyday.
Andrew Cuomo Is Calling It Quits in Albany. But the Political Dynasty May Endure|Philip Elliott|August 11, 2021|Time
Original oratory is supposed to be on a topic the speaker cares deeply about, and I remember being one of the few who gave a very personal one.
‘I’m Going to Say It From the Heart.’ America’s Reckoning on Race Has Come to High School Speech and Debate|Brian Seto McGrath|December 25, 2020|Time
Once-predictable high school oratory is starting to reflect a wider shift in how Americans talk about race, gender and the distribution of power in the United States—even if not everyone wants to hear what these young speakers have to say.
‘I’m Going to Say It From the Heart.’ America’s Reckoning on Race Has Come to High School Speech and Debate|Brian Seto McGrath|December 25, 2020|Time
You got kids in oratory writing about their undocumented parents.
‘I’m Going to Say It From the Heart.’ America’s Reckoning on Race Has Come to High School Speech and Debate|Brian Seto McGrath|December 25, 2020|Time

These oratories draw clear lines between speaker and audience, and their solutions do not always invite easy agreement.
‘I’m Going to Say It From the Heart.’ America’s Reckoning on Race Has Come to High School Speech and Debate|Brian Seto McGrath|December 25, 2020|Time
For his oratory work he was paid over $1.3 million (a significant amount of which he donated to charity).
The Ugly Truth About Cory Booker, New Jersey’s Golden Boy|Olivia Nuzzi|October 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
No amount of sweet-sounding oratory is going to disabuse him of his hard-driving partisan agenda.
What Obama Should Say on Monday|Paul Begala|January 21, 2013|DAILY BEAST
He launches into a flight of oratory on the past greatness of Petra.
Petra by Night|David Frum|January 3, 2013|DAILY BEAST
And for good reason: images of the crowd at political conventions can be as important as the oratory.
You Aced It, Michelle Obama|Mansfield Frazier|September 5, 2012|DAILY BEAST
That kind of oratory is not necessarily unusual in Arab countries, even those at peace with Israel.
Morsi’s Win in Egypt Sparks Fear in Israel|Dan Ephron|June 19, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Academies are to universities as maturity is to childhood, oratory to grammar, or politeness to the first lessons in civility.
A Philosophical Dictionary, Volume 1 (of 10)|Franois-Marie Arouet (AKA Voltaire)
It was one of the triumphs of Bright's oratory that it constantly produced these popular cries.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Part 3|Various
Thus in oratory as in history the ancients can boast of most illustrious examples, never even equalled.
Beacon Lights of History, Volume I|John Lord
Socrates insisted upon the gift of oratory for a general in the army as well as for a leader in political life.
Beacon Lights of History, Volume I|John Lord
The Speaker's speech was far from any oratory, but was as plain (though good matter) as any thing could be, and void of elocution.
Diary of Samuel Pepys, Complete|Samuel Pepys

British Dictionary definitions for oratory (1 of 3)

oratory¹

/ (ˈɒrətərɪ, -trɪ) /

noun

the art of public speaking

rhetorical skill or style

Derived forms of oratory

oratorical, adjectiveoratorically, adverb

Word Origin for oratory

C16: from Latin (ars) ōrātōria (the art of) public speaking

British Dictionary definitions for oratory (2 of 3)

oratory²

/ (ˈɒrətərɪ, -trɪ) /

noun plural -ries

a small room or secluded place, set apart for private prayer

Word Origin for oratory

C14: from Anglo-Norman, from Church Latin ōrātōrium place of prayer, from ōrāre to plead, pray

British Dictionary definitions for oratory (3 of 3)

Oratory

/ (ˈɒrətərɪ, -trɪ) /

noun RC Church

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 societythe Brompton Oratory

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

oratory

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Origin of oratory

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Other definitions for oratory (2 of 2)

Origin of oratory

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British Dictionary definitions for oratory (1 of 3)

Derived forms of oratory

Word Origin for oratory

British Dictionary definitions for oratory (2 of 3)

Word Origin for oratory

British Dictionary definitions for oratory (3 of 3)