WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
or•a•tor•i•cal
(ôr′ə tôr′i kəl, or′ə tor′-),USA pronunciation adj.
or′a•tor′i•cal•ly, adv.
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026- of, pertaining to, or characteristic of an orator or oratory:His oratorical prowess has led to political success.
- given to oratory:an oratorical speaker.
- orator, orator(y)1 + -ical 1610–20
or•a•to•ry1 /ˈɔrəˌtɔri, ˈɑr-/USA pronunciation
n. [uncountable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- skill or ability in public speaking; the art of public speaking, esp. in a formal and eloquent manner.
or•a•to•ry1
(ôr′ə tôr′ē, -tōr′ē, or′-),USA pronunciation n.
or•a•to•ry2 (ôr′ə tôr′ē, -tōr′ē, or′-),USA pronunciation n., pl. -ries.
- skill or eloquence in public speaking:The evangelist moved thousands to repentance with his oratory.
- 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
- 1. rhetoric, delivery, declamation.
or•a•to•ry2 (ôr′ə tôr′ē, -tōr′ē, or′-),USA pronunciation n., pl. -ries.
- Religiona place of prayer, as a small chapel or a room for private devotions.
- 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
'oratorical' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):