Definition

The art of persuasive speaking or writing, or alternatively, inflated language designed to impress rather than inform. Politicians and marketers have elevated rhetoric to a professional sport where style matters more than substance. When someone says "that's just rhetoric," they mean "that sounds impressive but means absolutely nothing."

Example Usage

The candidate's rhetoric about change resonated with voters, even though his policy proposals remained vague.

Source: Common communication and marketing terminology

Related Terms

Intermediate

below the line

Direct, targeted promotional activities like direct mail, point-of-sale, sponsorships, and digital marketing that engage specific audiences rather than mass markets. It's precision marketing as opposed to shouting into the void.

📣 Marketing / Advertising
Intermediate

Top of Funnel

The widest part of the marketing funnel where you cast the broadest net possible and hope some fish are actually interested in enterprise software. It's where you attract the maximum number of people who will never, ever become customers.

📣 Marketing / Advertising
Intermediate

heat map

A visual representation showing where users click, scroll, and gaze on your website, revealing the harsh truth that nobody reads your carefully crafted copy. It's like a lie detector test for your web design assumptions.

📣 Marketing / Advertising
Intermediate

geofencing

Using GPS or RFID to create virtual geographic boundaries that trigger targeted marketing when someone enters the area. It's like having an invisible fence that alerts you to send ads to anyone who walks past your competitor's store.

📣 Marketing / Advertising
Intermediate

marketing qualified lead

A prospect who's shown enough interest to warrant sales attention but hasn't quite committed, occupying that precious limbo between 'downloaded a whitepaper' and 'actually wants to talk to someone.' The marketing team's way of saying 'we've done our part, now it's your turn' to sales.

📣 Marketing / Advertising
Intermediate

whale hunting

Targeting extremely high-value enterprise clients that could transform your business with a single deal. The Moby Dick approach to sales, obsession included.

📣 Marketing / Advertising

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See “rhetoric” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.

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