What does exordium mean?
Exordium refers to the opening section of a speech, essay, or other formal discourse — the part that precedes the main argument. In classical rhetoric, it was regarded as one of the essential divisions of an oration, alongside the narration, proof, and conclusion, and its purpose was to prepare the audience: to secure their attention, establish the speaker's credibility, and win their goodwill. The term remains in use today chiefly in rhetoric, literary criticism, and scholarly prose, where it lends a precise, elevated register to discussions of how a work begins. By extension, it can denote any formal introduction or opening. Because it descends directly from Latin rhetorical theory, "exordium" carries a distinctly bookish flavor and is rarely heard in casual conversation. For writers and speakers interested in the craft of persuasion, it names a concept — the strategic art of the opening — for which ordinary English has no exact equivalent, making it a valuable addition to an educated vocabulary.
nounThe introductory part of a speech, essay, or treatise, especially in classical rhetoric; a beginning or opening.
- The introductory section of a speech, discourse, or written work, especially as one of the canonical divisions in classical rhetoric.
- A beginning or opening of any undertaking (literary or figurative).
"The orator's exordium was designed to win the audience's goodwill before he advanced his argument."
"Her exordium — a brief anecdote about her grandmother's letters — immediately disarmed the skeptical audience."
"The essay's exordium promised more than the argument ultimately delivered."
Both plurals are accepted; "exordia" follows the original Latin neuter plural pattern and is common in scholarly writing, while "exordiums" suits general prose.
"The treatise surveys the exordia of several famous orations."
In classical rhetoric, the exordium had one job above all: make your audience like you before you told them anything they might not want to hear.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of exordium
"Exordium" comes from Latin exordium, meaning "beginning" or "introduction," derived from the verb exordiri, "to begin, to lay the warp on a loom," formed from ex- ("out") and ordiri ("to begin weaving"). The underlying image is thus that of starting the threads of a web, which makes the word a strikingly literal metaphor for launching a discourse. It entered English in the late sixteenth century, borrowed by scholars engaged with classical rhetoric, and has retained its association with formal oratory ever since. The same Latin root ordiri gives related words such as "exord" and connects to the broader family of terms built on ordo ("order"), including "order" itself.
Related word forms
How exordium is actually used
"Exordium" is a formal, learned term used mainly in rhetoric, literary criticism, and academic writing; it is rare in everyday conversation. Its plural is either "exordiums" or the Latin-style "exordia." The word carries a slightly elevated, scholarly connotation and often appears in discussions of classical oratory.
Easily confused with exordium
An exodus is a mass departure or exit, whereas an exordium is an opening or introduction to a discourse.