peroration

[ per-uh-rey-shuhn ]

noun

1. a long speech characterized by lofty and often pompous language.
2. Rhetoric. the concluding part of a speech or discourse, in which the speaker or writer recapitulates the principal points and urges them with greater earnestness and force.

peroration

/ ˌpɛrəˈreɪʃən /

noun

1. rhetoric the conclusion of a speech or discourse, in which points made previously are summed up or recapitulated, esp with greater emphasis

Other Words From

• pero·ration·al pero·rative adjective
• per·or·a·tor·i·cal [p, uh, -rawr-, uh, -, tawr, -i-k, uh, l, -ror-, uh, -, tor, -], adjective
• per·ora·tori·cal·ly adverb
• per·or·a·to·ry [p, uh, -, rawr, -, uh, -tawr-ee, -tohr-ee, -, ror, -], noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of peroration¹

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin perōrātiōn- (stem of perōrātiō ) the closing of a speech. See perorate, -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of peroration¹

C15: from Latin perōrātiō, from perōrāre, from per- (thoroughly) + orāre to speak

Example Sentences

He was the very archetype of a Supreme Court orator, engaging in booming perorations and lightning-fast exchanges with the judges.

From BBC

Frank came to the stage with a detailed two-page peroration and zero intention of editing what he had to say.

From Salon

I did not see Lillard’s peroration live on TV but a day later, on Twitter, where it played in heavy rotation, accompanied by sentiments like “class act” and “no better role model.”

From New York Times

“Greetings, conversationalists across the fruited plain,” he began in one of his stream-of-consciousness perorations from the bunker, an American flag dangling in the corner.

From New York Times

The peroration culminated with a simple white marker at Arlington, on the western horizon.

From Washington Post

Related Words

• afterword
• coda
• postscript
• summation