YOUR VOCABULARY, ONE WORD AT A TIME

rhetoric

Noun

IPA /ˈretərɪk/

Understand it. Say it. Use it.

UNDERSTAND THE WORD

Meaning in plain English

Language intended to persuade or impress, often without enough sincerity or substance.

SAY IT ALOUD

Pronunciation

rhetoric/ˈretərɪk/

PICTURE THE IDEA

See the meaning

Compare

Grand promises of improvement
Little action follows

Rhetoric in this critical sense is impressive language with too little substance behind it.

SEE IT IN EVERYDAY ENGLISH

Examples in context

Read the examples aloud. Notice how the word fits the sentence, then think of a situation of your own.

He was tired of the club's grand rhetoric about change when nothing improved.
The report challenged the gap between the company's rhetoric and its actions.

MAKE IT STICK

Quick word quiz

Try the question without looking back, then write a sentence of your own. You can retry as often as you like.

Can you recall the word?

Complete the example using the word from this lesson.

He was tired of the club's grand ________ about change when nothing improved.

Show the answer

rhetoric — Language intended to persuade or impress, often without enough sincerity or substance.

Try your own sentence (optional)

Make it yours

Write one sentence using “rhetoric” about your own life.

Your sentence (optional)

Check your sentence

Does your sentence match this meaning?

Language intended to persuade or impress, often without enough sincerity or substance.

Compare: He was tired of the club's grand rhetoric about change when nothing improved.

Check the spelling and how the word fits the sentence. Your example can be different.

Self-review only. Your sentence is not automatically marked, saved or submitted.

This quiz is for practice. To save lesson completion on this device, complete the checks in the app.

Word origin

From French rethorique and Latin, ultimately from Greek terms for the art of public speaking.

Did you know?

Rhetoric also has a neutral academic meaning: the art of effective speaking and writing.

Explore related words

Open a word’s lesson when available, or explore entries that use the related term.

Make the word your own

Say the word aloud and read an example sentence.
Write a new sentence about something familiar to you.
Cover the meaning and try explaining the word in your own words.

Continue with the app’s practice check, then try a sentence of your own to mark this word complete.

Practise this word in the app

Completion and saved words stay in this browser on this device.