exhortation
C1Formal, literary, religious, oratory.
Definition
Meaning
A speech or statement that urges someone strongly to do something.
The act of earnestly advising or encouraging someone to take a specific course of action, often with a sense of urgency or moral duty.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
While 'advice' is neutral, an exhortation carries a stronger, more passionate, and persuasive tone, often aimed at motivating action or moral improvement.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Slightly more common in formal religious contexts in the US.
Connotations
Formal, serious, often implies a public or group address.
Frequency
Low frequency in everyday speech in both regions; primarily found in written texts, sermons, formal speeches, and historical contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
exhortation to (infinitive)exhortation for (pronoun/noun) to (infinitive)exhortation against (noun/gerund)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A call to arms (metaphorically similar)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. 'The CEO's exhortation to cut costs was met with skepticism.'
Academic
Found in history, theology, rhetoric. 'The philosopher's exhortations on civic duty were central to his work.'
Everyday
Very rare. Typically replaced by 'urging' or 'encouragement'.
Technical
Not applicable.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The vicar exhorted his congregation to greater charity.
- She was exhorted to reconsider her decision.
American English
- The coach exhorted the team to give one hundred and ten percent.
- Protesters exhorted the crowd to take action.
adverb
British English
- He spoke exhortatively about the need for reform.
- She gestured exhortatively towards the finish line.
American English
- The senator spoke exhortatively on the Senate floor.
- He pointed exhortatively at the map.
adjective
British English
- His exhortative speech left the audience deeply moved.
- The pamphlet had an exhortatory tone.
American English
- She used an exhortative approach in her leadership.
- The document's exhortatory language was clear.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The teacher's exhortation to study harder was ignored by most of the class.
- His final exhortation to the team before the match was both passionate and strategic.
- The article contained a strong exhortation for governments to act on climate change.
- The general's fiery exhortation rallied the dispirited troops for one final assault.
- Papal exhortations often address complex social and moral issues for a global audience.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a coach giving a passionate HALF-TIME SPEECH, EXHORTING the team to try harder. EXHORTATION sounds like 'EGG-ZOR-TAY-SHUN' – imagine a leader passionately urging people to 'Go on, get out there!' as if pushing an egg (a fragile thing) to take action.
Conceptual Metaphor
PERSUASION IS A FORCE/PUSH ('to urge'), SPEECH IS A WEAPON/TOOL FOR MOTIVATION.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'экспортация' (exportation).
- Do not translate directly as 'призыв' in all contexts, as 'призыв' can also mean 'draft/conscription' or 'appeal'. 'Exhortation' is more specific and formal.
- The related verb 'to exhort' (убеждать, призывать) is even less common than the noun.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'exhortition' or 'exortation'.
- Using it in casual contexts where 'encouragement' or 'advice' would be more natural, making speech sound stilted.
- Incorrect pronunciation: stressing the first syllable (EX-hor-tation) instead of the third (ex-hor-TA-tion).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'exhortation' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a formal, low-frequency word (C1 level). In everyday conversation, people use simpler words like 'urging', 'encouragement', or 'pep talk'.
It is neutral in intent (to encourage good action) but can be perceived negatively if the urging is seen as nagging, fanatical, or unwelcome.
An 'exhortation' strongly encourages positive future action. An 'admonition' is a firm warning or criticism about past or potential wrongdoing.
It is exclusively a noun. The related verb is 'to exhort', and the rare adjective is 'exhortative' or 'exhortatory'.
Explore