peroration: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2 / Rare / LiteraryFormal, Literary, Rhetorical, sometimes Critical
Quick answer
What does “peroration” mean?
The concluding part of a speech, typically intended to inspire enthusiasm or summarize arguments.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The concluding part of a speech, typically intended to inspire enthusiasm or summarize arguments.
A formal and rhetorical conclusion; sometimes used pejoratively to describe a lengthy, pompous, or overly dramatic speech.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is consistent in both varieties, though perhaps more commonly encountered in British contexts describing parliamentary or legal rhetoric.
Connotations
In critical use, can imply grandiloquence, tediousness, or an attempt to mask weak arguments with emotional flourish.
Frequency
Very low frequency in both. More likely found in literary criticism, political commentary, or historical accounts than in everyday speech.
Grammar
How to Use “peroration” in a Sentence
[deliver/give/launch into] a peroration[speech/argument] concluded with a peroration on [topic]the peroration of [his/her] speechVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Extremely rare. Might be used metaphorically in a critical review of a long-winded executive presentation.
Academic
Used in classical studies, rhetoric, literary analysis, and political history to describe the structure of speeches.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation.
Technical
A technical term in rhetoric and composition theory.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “peroration”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “peroration”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “peroration”
- Misspelling as 'perorition' or 'peroration'.
- Using it to mean any part of a speech rather than specifically the conclusion.
- Pronouncing it as /pəˈrɔːreɪʃən/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Positively, it denotes a skillful and inspiring conclusion. Negatively, it implies a pompous, overly long, or insubstantial finale meant to distract from a weak argument.
Primarily, but it can be applied to the concluding section of a written essay or article, especially one employing similar rhetorical techniques.
To 'perorate' is the corresponding verb, meaning to speak at length, especially in a formal, pompous manner. It is even rarer than the noun.
No. It is a high-level, formal word used in specific contexts like literary analysis, political commentary, or classical studies. It is not part of everyday vocabulary.
The concluding part of a speech, typically intended to inspire enthusiasm or summarize arguments.
Peroration is usually formal, literary, rhetorical, sometimes critical in register.
Peroration: in British English it is pronounced /ˌpɛrəˈreɪʃ(ə)n/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌpɛrəˈreɪʃ(ə)n/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'PERfect ORATION' – the final, perfected part of an oration.
Conceptual Metaphor
A speech is a journey: the introduction is the departure, the body is the travel, the peroration is the destination.
Practice
Quiz
In rhetorical criticism, a 'peroration' is most specifically: