rhetorical

CEFRC1

/ɹɪˈtɒɹ.ɪ.kəl/

adjective · noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    adjective

    Used to persuade or emphasize rather than request an answer.

  2. 02

    adjective

    Extra detail

    Asked for dramatic or persuasive effect, rather than to get an answer.

Examples

  • Have you ever asked me a question that wasn't rhetorical?

  • When someone speaks with such rhetorical flourish, it starts to sound like they're lying.

At a glance

Sits at C1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
2
Citations
1

Deep Dive

adjective

Extra meanings

  1. Not earnest, or presented only for the purpose of an argument.

  2. Part of or similar to rhetoric, the use of language as a means to persuade.

noun

Extra meaning

  1. A study or exercise in rhetoric.

More examples

In context

  • '"Are you an idiot? Actually, don't answer that, it was rhetorical."

  • Who needs rhetorical questions?

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The speaker used a blank question to make the audience think, not to get an answer.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

adjective

From Middle English rethorycal, rethoricalle, rethorycall, from rethorik, rhetoric (noun) or Latin rēthoricus, rhētoricus, from Ancient Greek ῥητορικός (rhētorikós, “concerning public speaking”). By surface analysis, rhetoric + -al.