oration
noun
ora·tion
ə-ˈrā-shən 
ȯ-
: an elaborate discourse (see discourse entry 1 sense 2) delivered in a formal and dignified manner
She delivered an oration on the value of art in our society.
a commencement oration
a funeral oration
Examples of oration in a Sentence
She made an oration on the value of art in society.
the celebrated orations of Daniel Webster in unwavering support of the federal union
Recent Examples on the Web
Afterward, the orations turned to internal divisions, particularly those related to slavery.
—
Barbara Spindel,
Christian Science Monitor,
1 July 2026
The greatest of all Fourth of July orations was delivered in 1852, on the 76th anniversary of American independence, by Frederick Douglass in Rochester, New York.
—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
31 May 2026
Though the speech was likely written by the government—in keeping with long-standing tradition that the monarch speaks for the government during high-profile oration—the king did find a way to put his own flair on a few of the jokes, and got plenty of laughs from Congress.
—
Erin Vanderhoof,
Vanity Fair,
29 Apr. 2026
Atlanta trailed by 13 after the first quarter and made nary an utterance afterward, much less any kind of louder oration to offset its disappointment at losing home-court advantage in a Game 4 defeat three days earlier.
—
John Hollinger,
New York Times,
29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for oration
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Barbara Spindel,
Christian Science Monitor,
1 July 2026
The greatest of all Fourth of July orations was delivered in 1852, on the 76th anniversary of American independence, by Frederick Douglass in Rochester, New York.
—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
31 May 2026
Though the speech was likely written by the government—in keeping with long-standing tradition that the monarch speaks for the government during high-profile oration—the king did find a way to put his own flair on a few of the jokes, and got plenty of laughs from Congress.
—
Erin Vanderhoof,
Vanity Fair,
29 Apr. 2026
Atlanta trailed by 13 after the first quarter and made nary an utterance afterward, much less any kind of louder oration to offset its disappointment at losing home-court advantage in a Game 4 defeat three days earlier.
—
John Hollinger,
New York Times,
29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for oration
Cite this Entry
“Oration.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oration. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
oration
noun
ora·tion
ə-ˈrā-shən
ȯ-
: an important speech given on some special occasion
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