Definition of "rhetoric"

rhetoric¹

/ɹɪˈtɒɹɪk/

adjective
1. Synonym of rhetorical.

rhetoric²

/ˈɹɛtəɹɪk/

noun
countable and uncountable, plural rhetorics
1. The art of using language, especially public speaking, as a means to persuade.
  Quotations
  Transport Minister Marples, meanwhile, used arrogant rhetoric and showed his personal contempt for railways when confirming in Parliament that a third of the network was to be closed even before the survey results were known.
  2023 March 8, Howard Johnston, “Was Marples the real railway wrecker?”, in RAIL, number 978, page 53
2. Meaningless language with an exaggerated style intended to impress.