rhetoric

American  

[ret-er-ik] / ˈrɛt ər ɪk /

noun

1. 

   (in writing or speech) the undue use of exaggeration or display; bombast.

2. the art or science of all specialized literary uses of language in prose or verse, including the figures of speech.

3. the study of the effective use of language.

4. the ability to use language effectively.

5. the art of prose in general as opposed to verse.

6. the art of making persuasive speeches; oratory.

7. (in classical oratory) the art of influencing the thought and conduct of an audience.

8. (in older use) a work on rhetoric.

---

rhetoric British  

/ ˈrɛtərɪk /

noun

1. the study of the technique of using language effectively

2. the art of using speech to persuade, influence, or please; oratory

3. excessive use of ornamentation and contrivance in spoken or written discourse; bombast

4. 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."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

rhetoric

McDermott, at the time, described Connor as a "game-breaker" and played down concerns over his temperament, saying: "I think the rhetoric and the narrative around Jake was tremendously unfair."

From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2026

Other donors said they were inspired to give to moderate candidates because of concern that anti-Israel rhetoric could veer into attacks on Jews more broadly.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 28, 2026

Other highly exposed majors included management information systems and majors related to rhetoric, composition and writing.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 25, 2026

The First Amendment prevents government censorship, but one reason there are social penalties, including criticism, shunning and firing for hateful rhetoric, is that it is not, in fact, harmless.

From Salon ● Sep. 25, 2026

These are what—in connection with forensic rhetoric in particular, though they have their analogues in the deliberative sphere—Aristotle calls “nontechnical proofs.”

From "Words Like Loaded Pistols" by Sam Leith

Related Words

• hyperbole
• oratory