1. the introductory part of a speech or written work
Usage: formal; rhetoric

Examples

• The senator’s exordium captured the audience’s attention immediately.
• In classical rhetoric, the exordium serves to establish rapport with listeners.
• The novel’s exordium provided essential background for the story.
• Her speech began with a compelling exordium about social justice.
• The lawyer’s exordium outlined the key arguments of his case.
• Ancient orators spent considerable time crafting the perfect exordium.