exhortation

Exhortation is the act of urging someone to undertake a course of action or to adopt a belief through earnest appeal, persuasive speech, or moral suasion. It can be delivered as speech, writing, or personal encouragement, and its aim is to persuade rather than coerce. The term is used in religious, ethical, and secular contexts alike, whenever a speaker or writer seeks to move an audience toward a preferred end.

Etymology: exhortare is Latin for to encourage or urge, formed from ex- "out" and hort- "to urge." The noun exhortation appears in English with senses that include a spoken exhortation and the content that urges action.

In rhetoric and literature, exhortation is a deliberate mode of address that blends appeals to reason, emotion, and duty. In many religious traditions, exhortation is a common feature of sermons, homilies, and pastoral letters, where leaders urge listeners toward faith, virtue, perseverance, or obedience.

In secular use, exhortation appears in political speeches, public health campaigns, and motivational writing, serving to mobilize action while respecting audience autonomy. Ethically, it aims to persuade rather than coerce, and its effectiveness depends on credibility, tone, and alignment with audience values.

See also: exhort, encouragement, admonition, urging.