Oratory: meaning, definitions and examples

Used when referring to the art of formal public speaking, often with a focus on style rather than content.

• His oratory skills won him many admirers.
• The senator was praised for his powerful oratory during the debate.

General term for speaking in front of an audience. Commonly used in educational or professional contexts.

• Public speaking can be intimidating for many people.
• He took a course to improve his public speaking skills.

Refers to the art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing, often with a focus on technique but can carry a negative connotation if it lacks sincerity or substance.

• The politician's rhetoric was criticized for being empty and manipulative.
• She was a master of rhetoric and could sway any audience.

Used to describe fluent, persuasive, and graceful speaking or writing. Typically seen as positive and complimentary.

• Her eloquence impressed everyone at the conference.
• The poet's eloquence captured the emotions of the audience.

An oratory can refer to a small private chapel or a place designed for prayer, often associated with someone's home or a private institution.

• He retired to his private oratory to pray.
• The mansion had a beautiful oratory full of stained glass windows.

A chapel is a small place of worship, it might be part of a larger church or a standalone building often found in institutions like schools, hospitals, or prisons.

• They held the wedding in the school's chapel.
• The chapel at the hospital is open to all patients and staff.

A sanctuary refers to a sacred place or a room within a church or temple where people go to worship or find solace. It can also mean a place of safety or refuge, with a connotation of protection and peace.

• The cathedral's sanctuary is a place of peace and reflection.
• During the storm, many people found sanctuary in the community center.

A prayer room is a dedicated space specifically for the purpose of prayer, usually found in public or semi-public places like offices, airports, or schools to accommodate people of different faiths.

• The airport has a prayer room for travelers.
• The office building has a prayer room for employees.