oration

noun

ora·​tion ə-ˈrā-shən 

ȯ-

: an elaborate discourse (see discourse entry 1 sense 2) delivered in a formal and dignified manner

She delivered an oration on the value of art in our society.

a commencement oration

a funeral oration

Synonyms

• speech

Examples of oration in a Sentence

She made an oration on the value of art in society.

the celebrated orations of Daniel Webster in unwavering support of the federal union

Recent Examples on the Web

His orations of statistics, stories, and argumentative persuasion at colleges were energetic, frictious, and necessary to unshackle us from grievance and tribalism. —Alex Rosado, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025

But behind the world’s fastest-growing businesses is a quieter form of leadership—one that privileges operations over oration, systems over showmanship, and execution over ego. —Brent Gleeson, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025

But Churchill did more than compose and deliver memorable orations. —Robert Schmuhl, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2025

However, attendees showed no sign of boredom and punctuated her approximately 30-minute oration at City Hall with applause. —Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 5 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin oration-, oratio speech, oration, from orare to plead, speak, pray; akin to Hittite ariya- to consult an oracle and perhaps to Greek ara prayer

First Known Use

circa 1504, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for oration

• ablation
• bination
• carnation
• cassation
• castration
• causation
• centration
• cessation
• cetacean
• chelation
• citation
• collation

Kids Definition

oration

noun

ora·​tion ə-ˈrā-shən 

ȯ-

: an important speech given on some special occasion

Etymology

from Latin oration-, oratio "speech," from oratus, past participle of orare "to speak, pray" — related to adore, oracle