oratory

1 of 2

noun (1)

or·​a·​to·​ry ˈȯr-ə-ˌtȯr-ē 

ˈär-

plural oratories

1

: a place of prayer

especially : a private or institutional chapel

The mansion contained an oratory for the family's private devotion.

2

capitalized : an Oratorian congregation, house, or church

oratory

2 of 2

noun (2)

1

: the art of speaking in public eloquently or effectively

2

a

: public speaking that employs oratory

b

: public speaking that is characterized by the use of stock phrases and that appeals chiefly to the emotions

Synonyms

Noun (2)

• speech
• elocution
• rhetoric
• public speaking

Examples of oratory in a Sentence

Noun (2)

a presidential hopeful with a gift for oratory and a highly charismatic personality

the politician's oratory sounded good only to people who didn't bother to think

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Known for his extraordinary oratory skills, everyone who has been around Levy has a story to tell about his Marvisms and motivational speeches. —Tim Graham, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2025

Her brand at the time was something like the Obama of the antipodes: a liberal media darling, icon of the global anti-Trump resistance, transitioning smoothly from lofty oratory to easygoing relatability. —Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 9 June 2025

Hugo would likely have been repelled and fascinated by Trump’s demagoguery, his rambling mendacity, his grammatically illogical but easy-to-follow oratory. —Graham Robb, The Atlantic, 9 June 2025

Darrow, in spite of his powerful oratory, and in spite of outmaneuvering Bryan during their exchange, was up against the fact that Scopes had admitted to teaching evolution, in violation of the Butler Act. —Dan Falk, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English oratorie, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin oratorium, from Latin orare

Noun (2)

Latin oratoria, from feminine of oratorius oratorical, from orare

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

circa 1522, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for oratory

• allegory
• amatory
• auditory
• category
• clerestory
• crematory
• desultory
• dilatory
• dormitory
• excretory
• extempore
• feudatory

Kids Definition

oratory

1 of 2 noun

or·​a·​to·​ry ˈȯr-ə-ˌtōr-ē 

ˈär-,

-ˌtȯr-

plural oratories

: a place for prayer

especially : a private chapel

oratory

2 of 2 noun

1

: the art of an orator

2

: oratorical language or speeches