rhetoric meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

rhetoric

noun

/ˈɹɛtəɹɪk/ · also /ɹɪˈtɒɹɪk/

Etymology Inherited from Middle English rhetorik, rhetoric, borrowed from Old French rhetorique, borrowed from Latin rhētorica, borrowed from Ancient Greek ῥητορικὴ (rhētorikḕ), ellipsis of ῥητορῐκή τέχνη (rhētorĭkḗ tékhnē).

The art of using language, especially public speaking, as a means to persuade.

Transport Minister Marples, meanwhile, used arrogant rhetoric and showed his personal contempt for railways when confirming in Parliament that a third of the network was to be closed even before the survey results were known.2023 March 8, Howard Johnston, “Was Marples the real railway wrecker?”, in RAIL, number 978, page 53:
“As soon as I am inaugurated, I will direct the Justice Department to vigorously pursue the death penalty to protect American families and children from violent rapists, murderers, and monsters. We will be a Nation of Law and Order again!” Trump wrote on Truth Social, echoing his long-standing advocacy for use of the death penalty, which was part of his tough-on-crime rhetoric during the 2024 campaign.2024 December 24, Aaron Pellish, “Trump says he will direct Justice Department to ‘vigorously pursue the death penalty’”, in CNN:

Derogatory, Sometimes Meaningless language with an exaggerated style intended to impress.

It’s only so much rhetoric.

Synonyms: speechcraft, wordcraft
Derived terms: current-traditional rhetoric, deep rhetoric, public rhetoric, rhetorical, rhetorician
Related terms: preterition

rhetoric

adj

/ɹɪˈtɒɹɪk/

Etymology Inherited from Middle English rhetorik, borrowed from Old French rhetorique, borrowed from Latin rhētoricus, borrowed from Ancient Greek ῥητορικός (rhētorikós), from ῥήτωρ (rhḗtōr, “public speaker”) + -ῐκός (-ĭkós). By surface analysis, rhetor + -ic.

Synonym of rhetorical.

Derived terms: rhetoricity