/ rɪˈtɒrɪkl; NAmE -ˈtɔːr-; -ˈtɑːr-/ adjective
1.
( of a question ) asked only to make a statement or to produce an effect rather than to get an answer :
'Don't you care what I do?' he asked, but it was a rhetorical question .
2.
( formal , often disapproving ) ( of a speech or piece of writing ) intended to influence people, but not completely honest or sincere
3.
( formal ) connected with the art of rhetoric :
the use of rhetorical devices such as metaphor and irony
► rhet·oric·al·ly / -kli; NAmE / adverb :
'Do you think I'm stupid?' she asked rhetorically.
a rhetorically structured essay
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (first used in the sense eloquently expressed ): via Latin from Greek rhētorikos (from rhētor rhetor) + -al .