Origin: Latin suffix -al
Rhetorical has 4 different meanings across 1 category:
A study or exercise in rhetoric.
"The professor assigned a rhetorical on the theme of justice to help us practice constructing persuasive arguments without needing an actual audience."
of or relating to rhetoric
"accepted two or three verbal and rhetorical changes I suggested"
"the rhetorical sin of the meaningless variation"
given to rhetoric, emphasizing style at the expense of thought
"mere rhetorical frippery"
Part of or similar to rhetoric, the use of language as a means to persuade.
"Her speech was full of rhetorical flourishes designed to sway the undecided voters during the election night debate."
The word "rhetorical" comes from the Ancient Greek term rhētorikós, which originally meant "concerning public speaking." It entered English through Middle English and Latin forms derived from that same Greek root.