oration

noun

ora·​tion ə-ˈrā-shən How to pronounce oration (audio)
ȯ-
: an elaborate discourse (see discourse entry 1 sense 2) delivered in a formal and dignified manner
She delivered an oration on the value of art in our society.
a commencement oration
a funeral oration

Examples of oration in a Sentence

She made an oration on the value of art in society. the celebrated orations of Daniel Webster in unwavering support of the federal union
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Popular on Variety The contestants bring their experiences into their oration, discussing the right of people to choose when and how to die and how society constantly uses humiliation as a tactic for complacency. Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 24 Jan. 2025 As a baseline, Chris Hayes points to Abraham Lincoln’s debates with Stephen A. Douglas, in the eighteen-fifties: three-hour exchanges of orations about a momentous topic, slavery. Daniel Immerwahr, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2025 Before his assassination at age 39 on April 4, 1968, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate spent a decade giving fearless orations and profound insights that continue to inspire generations, all deserving attention and consideration. Lydia Price, People.com, 20 Jan. 2025 On last night’s CNN’s New Years Eve Live with Cohen and Anderson Cooper, Fiennes dropped by to plug his acclaimed new film Conclave, but, per an agreement with Cohen, provided a bit of oration by reciting the viral TikTok advice from beauty influencer Jools Lebron. Greg Evans, Deadline, 1 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for oration

Word History

Etymology

Latin oration-, oratio speech, oration, from orare to plead, speak, pray; akin to Hittite ariya- to consult an oracle and perhaps to Greek ara prayer

First Known Use

circa 1504, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of oration was circa 1504

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Cite this Entry

“Oration.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oration. Accessed 2 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

oration

noun
ora·​tion ə-ˈrā-shən How to pronounce oration (audio)
ȯ-
: an important speech given on some special occasion
Etymology

from Latin oration-, oratio "speech," from oratus, past participle of orare "to speak, pray" — related to adore, oracle

More from Merriam-Webster on oration

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