1. The art of speaking or writing; using language; especially, public speaking, as a means of persuading or explaining something: Winston Churchill's speech of "Blood, sweat, and tears" is considered to be a masterpiece of rhetoric.
2. Sometimes, a meaningless language that is used with an exaggerated style that is intended to impress others: As a typical politician, Quincy used a lot of rhetoric but said nothing of importance; in fact, some people considered his rhetoric as nothing more than hot air, hokum, or bunk.

Mr. Jackson, the candidate, spoke with a fiery political rhetoric that was full of artificial eloquence and verbosity.

There are those who use rhetoric as a verbose, long-winded speech that is meant to impress, but usually falls flat for lack of substance or a deceitful and dishonest use of language in order to manipulate people.

3. Language that is elaborate, pretentious, insincere, or intellectually lacking serious thoughts: Ted's company made offers of compromise to the workers which were mere rhetoric because nothing was ever accomplished.

Too often, politicians talk about solutions to the national debt problems, but they usually just offer rhetoric and no significant results.

4. The speech or writing calculated to arouse passion: Imogene asked the group: "Are we ever going to move from empty rhetoric to a sound plan of action on this issue?"
5. Etymology: from Old French rethorique, from Latin rhetorice, from Greek rhetorike techne, "art of an orator", from rhetor, rhetoros, "orator"; related to rhema, "word"; literally, "that which is spoken". © ALL rights are reserved.

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