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)

• elocution
• 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

Other Kamala memes are rooted in the hokey nature of a lot of modern political speech: derived from aphorisms and pseudo-philosophical diction in the hope of echoing something like former President Barack Obama’s oratory. —Christian Paz, Vox, 3 July 2024

Still, Starmer, a bespectacled 61-year-old former human rights lawyer whose oratory provokes more drowsiness than hope, more may be just what Britain needs, according to political scientists and former officials. —Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 5 July 2024

For a still-young man of exceptional talents — for strategy, oratory, lucidity and timing — his fall is bewildering. —Lee Hockstader, Washington Post, 1 July 2024

If Rouhani had sought to tone down the oratory, Raisi, who succeeded him in 2021, reinforced it, and there is little indication that this will change with Raisi’s successor. —Ali M. Ansari, Foreign Affairs, 29 May 2024

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

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