rhetorical question

/rɪˈtɔrɪkəl ˈkwɛstʃɪn/

/rɪˈtɔrɪkəl ˈkwestʃɪn/

Other forms: rhetorical questions

When you ask a rhetorical question, you don't really expect an answer. Imagine your brother is blasting his music and you ask, "Could you play that music any louder?" You don't really expect him to answer — you just want him to turn it down.

When something is rhetorical that means it is made for style or effect, likewise a rhetorical question is a question that is asked for mere effect, rather than a question that needs to be answered. Questions like “Who knew?” or “Who's better than me?” are often rhetorical. If someone asks a question when they actually do want an answer but they are not getting any response, you might hear them say, “It’s not a rhetorical question; I want an answer.”

Definitions of rhetorical question

1. noun

   a statement that is formulated as a question but that is not supposed to be answered
   “he liked to make his points with rhetorical questions”

   type of:

   statement

   a message that is stated or declared; a communication (oral or written) setting forth particulars or facts etc