orator

noun

or·​a·​tor ˈȯr-ə-tər 

ˈär-

1

: one who delivers an oration

The orator delivered the funeral oration at the cathedral.

2

: one distinguished for skill and power as a public speaker

is a masterly orator, able to reduce a throng of thousands to a hushed silence

—Raymond Bonner

Synonyms

• lecturer
• speaker

Examples of orator in a Sentence

though a brilliant wordsmith, Thomas Jefferson was by his own admission an unskilled orator

Recent Examples on the Web

Eloquent public speaker and campaigner While some may have forgotten the appeal and importance of a gifted orator after nearly eight years of Trump and Biden, voters must not forget the many of the memorable speeches delivered by President Barack Obama. —Jeffrey Sonnenfeld and Stephen Henriques, TIME, 3 Aug. 2024

One need only watch his speech concerning the dismantling of statues dedicated to the Confederacy’s anti-heroes to see Landrieu’s ability to speak on controversial issues with eloquence, intelligence and depth, to energize a crowd and prove himself even more than just a charismatic orator. —Michael Cozzillio, Baltimore Sun, 31 July 2024

For months, Trump had gotten a pass because Biden, never a gifted orator, struggled to make a forceful case against Trump. —Dana Milbank, Washington Post, 26 July 2024

Get Citation Request Reprint Permissions In 64 BC, the great Roman lawyer and orator Marcus Tullius Cicero ran for consul, the highest office in the republic. —Quintus Tullius Cicero, Foreign Affairs, 20 Apr. 2012

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

orator

noun

or·​a·​tor ˈȯr-ət-ər 

ˈär-

: a public speaker noted for skill and power in speaking