✨📕 The NEWThe NEW Collegiate Dictionary, 12th Edition Over 5,000 words added — Buy Now! Collegiate DictionaryBuy Now!

rhetor

noun

rhe·​tor ˈrē-ˌtȯr How to pronounce rhetor (audio) ˈre- How to pronounce rhetor (audio)
ˈrē-tər
ˈre-

Word History

Etymology

Middle English rethor, from Latin rhetor, from Greek rhētōr

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rhetor was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rhetor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rhetor. Accessed 30 Nov. 2025.

Last Updated: - Definition revised
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!