rhetoric

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   Language used skillfully, especially in speeches, to persuade or impress people.

   The senator's powerful rhetoric won over even his strongest critics.

2. 2
   noun

   Showy or exaggerated language that sounds impressive but means little.

   Voters grew tired of empty political rhetoric and demanded real action.

3. 3
   noun

   The art and study of effective speaking and writing.

   She studied classical rhetoric to understand how great orators shaped their arguments.

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”).

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