oratorio

O1R1A1T1O1R1I1O1
/ɔɹə'to:ɹeoʋ/

noun

A musical composition, often based on a religious theme; similar to opera but with no costume, scenery or acting.

Similar
cantata
OriginItalian oratorio ← Latin ōrātōrius →
UncommonScrabble 8
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Meanings

nounoratorio (plural oratorios)

plural oratorios

  1. entertainmentA musical composition, often based on a religious theme; similar to opera but with no costume, scenery or acting.

Synonyms & antonyms

nouna musical composition for voices and orchestra based on a religious text

Similar
cantata
Broader
classical musicclassicalserious music
Also see
cantata

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Latinōrātōrius
  2. Italianoratorio“oratorical”
  3. Englishoratorio

Borrowed from Italian oratorio (“oratorical”), from Latin ōrātōrius. Doublet of oratory.

More words from Italian, Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian оратория
  • оратория (oratorija)a musical composition on a religious theme
Catalan oratori
  • oratoria musical composition on a religious theme
Chinese Mandarin 神劇 /神剧, 清唱劇 /清唱剧
  • 神劇 /神剧 (shénjù)a musical composition on a religious theme
  • 清唱劇 /清唱剧 (qīngchàngjù)a musical composition on a religious theme
Finnish oratorio
  • oratorioa musical composition on a religious theme
French oratorio
  • oratorioa musical composition on a religious theme
German Oratorium
  • Oratoriuma musical composition on a religious theme
Greek ορατόριο
  • ορατόριο (oratório)a musical composition on a religious theme
Hebrew אורטוריה
  • אורטוריה (oratórija)a musical composition on a religious theme
Hungarian oratórium
  • oratóriuma musical composition on a religious theme
Icelandic óratóría
  • óratóríaa musical composition on a religious theme
Irish oratóir
  • oratóira musical composition on a religious theme
Italian oratorio
  • oratorioa musical composition on a religious theme
Latvian oratorija
  • oratorijaa musical composition on a religious theme
Norwegian Bokmål oratorium
  • oratoriuma musical composition on a religious theme
Polish oratorium
  • oratoriuma musical composition on a religious theme
Portuguese oratório
  • oratórioa musical composition on a religious theme
Russian орато́рия
  • орато́рия (oratórija)a musical composition on a religious theme
Swedish oratorium
  • oratoriuma musical composition on a religious theme
Ukrainian ораторія
  • ораторія (oratorija)a musical composition on a religious theme
Cite this entry
APA

oratorio. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/oratorio

MLA

“oratorio.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/oratorio. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “oratorio,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/oratorio.

Source: oratorio on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.