oratory

UK: /ˈɒrətəri/

US: /ˈɔrəˌtɔri, ˈɑr-/

US: (ôr′ə tôr′ē, -tōr′ē, or′-)

Inflections of 'oratory' (n): npl: oratories

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

or•a•to•ry¹ /ˈɔrəˌtɔri, ˈɑr-/   n. [uncountable]

1. skill or ability in public speaking; the art of public speaking, esp. in a formal and eloquent manner.

or•a•tor•i•cal /ˌɔrəˈtɔrɪkəl, ˌɑrəˈtɑr-/  adj. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

or•a•to•ry¹  (ôr′ə tôr′ē, -tōr′ē, or′-), n. 

1. skill or eloquence in public speaking:
   The evangelist moved thousands to repentance with his oratory.
2. the art of public speaking, esp. in a formal and eloquent manner.

• Latin ōrātōria, noun, nominal use of feminine of ōrātōrius of an orator. See orator, -tory¹
• 1580–90

Synonyms

• 1. rhetoric, delivery, declamation.

or•a•to•ry²  (ôr′ə tôr′ē, -tōr′ē, or′-), n., pl. -ries. 

1. Religion a place of prayer, as a small chapel or a room for private devotions.
2. Religion (cap.) [Rom. Cath. Ch.] any of the religious societies of secular priests who live in religious communities but do not take vows.

• Late Latin ōrātōrium place of prayer. See orator, -tory²
• Middle English 1300–50

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

oratory / ˈɒrətərɪ -trɪ/ noun

1. the art of public speaking
2. rhetorical skill or style

Etymology: 16th Century: from Latin (ars) ōrātōria (the art of) public speaking

ˌoraˈtorical adjective

ˌoraˈtorically adverb

oratory / ˈɒrətərɪ -trɪ/ noun ( -ries)

1. a small room or secluded place, set apart for private prayer

Etymology: 14th Century: from Anglo-Norman, from Church Latin ōrātōrium place of prayer, from ōrāre to plead, pray