rhetoric

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   loud and confused and empty talk

   mere rhetoric

2. 2
   noun

   The art of using language, especially public speaking, as a means to persuade.

   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.

3. 3
   noun

   Meaningless language with an exaggerated style intended to impress.

   It’s only so much rhetoric.

4. 4
   noun

   study of the technique and rules for using language effectively (especially in public speaking)

5. 5
   noun

   high-flown style

6. 6
   noun

   using language effectively to please or persuade

7. 7
   adj

   Synonym of rhetorical.

Etymology

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”).