adj. 1 expressed with a view to persuasive or impressive effect; artificial or extravagant in language. 2 of the nature of rhetoric. 3 a of or relating to the art of rhetoric. b given to rhetoric; oratorical. rhetorical question a question asked not for information but to produce an effect, e.g. who cares? for nobody cares. rhetorically adv.
[ ME f. L rhetoricus f. Gk rhetorikos (as RHETOR) ]