- Rhetoric is the art of using words well when speaking or writing.
- An example of rhetoric is when a politician can describe a problem and make it sound like it is not a problem.
- An example of rhetoric is a insincere offer by someone to do something.
- the art of using words effectively in speaking or writing; esp., now, the art of prose composition
- skill in this
- a treatise or book on this
- artificial eloquence; language that is showy and elaborate but largely empty of clear ideas or sincere emotion
Origin of rhetoricMiddle English rethorike ; from Old French or L: Old French rethorique ; from Classical Latin rhetorica ; from Classical Greek rhētorikē (technē), rhetorical (art) ; from rhētōr, orator: see rhetor
- a. The art or study of using language effectively and persuasively.b. A treatise or book discussing this art.
- Skill in using language effectively and persuasively.
- a. A style of speaking or writing, especially the language of a particular subject: fiery political rhetoric.b. Language that is elaborate, pretentious, insincere, or intellectually vacuous: His offers of compromise were mere rhetoric.
- Verbal communication; discourse.
Origin of rhetoricMiddle English rethorik, from Old French rethorique, from Latin rhētoricē, rhētorica, from Greek rhētorikē (tekhnē), rhetorical (art), feminine of rhētorikos, rhetorical, from rhētōr, rhetor; see rhetor.
- Synonym of rhetorical.
(countable and uncountable, plural rhetorics)
- Adjectives often applied to "rhetoric": political, legal, visual, classical, ancient, violent, empty, inflammatory, hateful, heated, fiery, vitriolic, angry, overheated, extreme.
From Latin rhÄ“torica, from Ancient Greek á¿¥Î·Ï„Î¿ÏÎ¹ÎºÎ® (rhÄ“torikÄ“), feminine form of á¿¥Î·Ï„Î¿ÏÎ¹ÎºÏŒÏ‚ (rhÄ“torikos, “concerning public speech"), from á¿¥Î®Ï„Ï‰Ï (rhÄ“tÅr, “public speaker").