oration

noun

ora·​tion ə-ˈrā-shən 

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

Synonyms

• address
• declamation
• harangue
• peroration
• speech
• talk

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

Just a week ago, everyone had a pretty good idea of what Donald Trump’s nomination acceptance speech tonight — his third — would be like: Just like his first two and just like the fiery oration he’s given many times. —New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 18 July 2024

Pasquale and Giuseppe are merely victims only in the most obvious scene: a grandstanding courtroom oration by a lawyer who accuses Italy for its indifference to the suffering of street kids. —Armond White, National Review, 19 June 2024

Those remarks were intended as a brief and formal follow-up to Everett’s two-hour oration dedicating the opening of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery at Gettysburg. —Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 June 2024

The rest needed little exaggeration: the property had a massive stone that George Washington once gave spirited orations from; clusters of money were said to be buried in the backwoods. —Nicolette Polek, Harper's Magazine, 22 May 2024

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

Kids Definition

oration

noun

ora·​tion ə-ˈrā-shən 

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