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 * rhetorical techniques / structures * She ended her speech with a rhetorical flourish.
rhetorically adverb:
'Do you think I'm stupid?' she asked rhetorically. * a rhetorically structured essay
