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Synonyms

oratory

1 American  
[awr-uh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee, or-] / ˈɔr əˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i, ˈɒr- /

noun

  1. skill or eloquence in public speaking.

    The evangelist moved thousands to repentance with his oratory.
    Synonyms:
    declamation, delivery, rhetoric

  2. the art of public speaking, especially in a formal and eloquent manner.

oratory 2 American  
[awr-uh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee, or-] / ˈɔr əˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i, ˈɒr- /

noun

plural

oratories

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

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

Oratory 1 British  
/ -trɪ, ˈɒrətərɪ /

noun

  1. Also called: Congregation of the Oratory.  the religious society of secular priests ( Oratorians ) living in a community founded by St Philip Neri

  2. any church belonging to this society

    the 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 2 British  
/ ˈɒrətərɪ, -trɪ /

noun

  1. the art of public speaking

  2. rhetorical skill or style

"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 3 British  
/ -trɪ, ˈɒrətərɪ /

noun

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

"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

Other Word Forms

  • oratorical adjective
  • oratorically adverb

Etymology

Origin of oratory1

1580–90; < Latin ōrātōria, noun use of feminine of ōrātōrius of an orator. See orator, -tory 1

Origin of oratory2

1300–50; Middle English < Late Latin ōrātōrium place of prayer. See orator, -tory 2

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.

He isn’t known for rousing oratory or catchy sound bites; the former prosecutor instead prefers to talk in long, earnest sentences about fairness and duty.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 9, 2026

While his oratory continues to project passion for justice, his controversial image has faded somewhat as his civil rights goals have become more inclusive.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 1, 2025

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

They were masterpieces of political oratory not despite their lack of weighty marble-clad phrases but because of it.

From Salon • Aug. 23, 2024

Here Dr. Trefusis stopped and reflected before continuing, so moved was he by the direction of his own oratory.

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson

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.