1
: one who delivers an oration
The orator delivered the funeral oration at the cathedral.
2
: one distinguished for skill and power as a public speaker
is a masterly orator, able to reduce a throng of thousands to a hushed silence—
Raymond Bonner
Raymond BonnerExamples of orator in a Sentence
though a brilliant wordsmith, Thomas Jefferson was by his own admission an unskilled orator
Recent Examples on the Web
But one of the most unforgettable moments of the day came from the commencement orator himself — Emmy, Grammy, NAACP Image and Peabody Award-winning actor and literacy advocate, LeVar Burton.
—Oumou Fofana, Essence, 12 May 2025
Theatrical window dressing and historical context are provided by some of the greatest celebrities of the early 20th century: Magician Harry Houdini, anarchist Emma Goldman, scandalous vaudeville star Evelyn Nesbit and the great orator/educator Booker T. Washington.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 9 May 2025
Perhaps no celebrity speaker will be more anticipated, or more unusual, than the amphibious orator at the University of Maryland: Kermit the Frog, who will have to forgive his hosts for not having green among their school colors.
—Mitch Smith, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025
Ambitious teen orators hone their craft, vying for glory in a prestigious global speech contest.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 13 May 2025
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Oumou Fofana, Essence, 12 May 2025
Theatrical window dressing and historical context are provided by some of the greatest celebrities of the early 20th century: Magician Harry Houdini, anarchist Emma Goldman, scandalous vaudeville star Evelyn Nesbit and the great orator/educator Booker T. Washington.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 9 May 2025
Perhaps no celebrity speaker will be more anticipated, or more unusual, than the amphibious orator at the University of Maryland: Kermit the Frog, who will have to forgive his hosts for not having green among their school colors.
—Mitch Smith, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025
Ambitious teen orators hone their craft, vying for glory in a prestigious global speech contest.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for orator
Cite this Entry
“Orator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/orator. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
orator
noun
or·a·tor
ˈȯr-ət-ər 
ˈär-
: a public speaker noted for skill and power in speaking
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