What does "rhetoric" mean?
The art of using language, especially public speaking, as a means to persuade.
Rhetoric
/ɹɪˈtɒɹɪk/ adj, noun
adj, noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The art of using language, especially public speaking, as a means to persuade.
- Grammar: rhetoric is listed as adj, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: affectation, argumentation, articulateness, barnumism.
- Useful contrasts: inarticulacy, nonrhetoric, plain language.
- Usage evidence: The end of which there were two little sketches of rhetoric and logic, the latter finishing with a specimen of a dispute in the Socratic method.
How to use "rhetoric"
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- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
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Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "rhetoric" in a final draft.
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Before you rely on this definition
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Compare nearby meanings
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "rhetoric" is acting as adj, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
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Final meaning check
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Definitions
Noun
- 1 The art of using language, especially public speaking, as a means to persuade. countable, uncountable
"Transport Minister Marples, meanwhile, used arrogant rhetoric and showed his personal contempt for railways when confirming in Parliament that a third of the network was to be closed even before the survey results were known."
- 2 study of the technique and rules for using language effectively (especially in public speaking) wordnet
- 3 Meaningless language with an exaggerated style intended to impress. countable, derogatory, sometimes, uncountable
"It’s only so much rhetoric."
- 4 loud and confused and empty talk wordnet
- 5 high-flown style; excessive use of verbal ornamentation wordnet
Show 1 more definition
- 6 using language effectively to please or persuade wordnet
Adjective
- 1 Synonym of rhetorical.
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"The end of which there were two little sketches of rhetoric and logic, the latter finishing with a specimen of a dispute in the Socratic method."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "rhetoric"?
Common synonyms include: affectation, argumentation, articulateness, barnumism, bedizenment, big talk.
How do you use "rhetoric" in a sentence?
The end of which there were two little sketches of rhetoric and logic, the latter finishing with a specimen of a dispute in the Socratic method.
How do you pronounce "rhetoric"?
Pronounced /ɹɪˈtɒɹɪk/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English rethorik, from Latin rēthoricus, rhētoricus, from Ancient Greek ῥητορῐκός (rhētorĭkós). By surface analysis, rhetor + -ic.
Etymology 2
From Middle English rethorik, rhetoric, from Old French rhetorique, from Latin rhētorica, from Ancient Greek ῥητορική (rhētorikḗ), ellipsis of ῥητορικὴ τέχνη (rhētorikḕ tékhnē), from ῥητορικός (rhētorikós, “concerning public speech”), from ῥήτωρ (rhḗtōr, “public speaker”).