rhetoric
Americannoun
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(in writing or speech) the undue use of exaggeration or display; bombast.
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the art or science of all specialized literary uses of language in prose or verse, including the figures of speech.
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the study of the effective use of language.
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the ability to use language effectively.
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the art of prose in general as opposed to verse.
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the art of making persuasive speeches; oratory.
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(in classical oratory) the art of influencing the thought and conduct of an audience.
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(in older use) a work on rhetoric.
noun
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the study of the technique of using language effectively
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the art of using speech to persuade, influence, or please; oratory
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excessive use of ornamentation and contrivance in spoken or written discourse; bombast
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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."
Vocabulary lists containing rhetoric
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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Argumentative Writing
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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.
Describing some of the ideas raised during this time as useful, Ocasio-Cortez said, “during lockdown, of course — rhetoric in that time is not rhetoric that we would use today.”
From Salon ● Aug. 13, 2026
In other words, the mall site that launched the entire movement could see the tech park go ahead if the county executive fails to follow her own rhetoric, even if the two-year moratorium otherwise lasts.
From Slate ● Aug. 6, 2026
But her rhetoric has shifted since replacing her deposed predecessor.
From Barron's ● Aug. 5, 2026
“Something we have seen throughout his mayoralty is that rather than pulling back from his rhetoric, he has leaned in to it.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026
She went on to write a PhD dissertation on the effect of formal rhetoric on Shakespeare’s language, and remained an evangelist for the use of the trivium in education.
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.
