circumlocution

noun

cir·cum·lo·cu·tion ˌsər-kəm-lō-ˈkyü-shən How to pronounce circumlocution (audio)

: the use of an unnecessarily large number of words to express an idea

had no patience with diplomatic circumlocutions

: evasion in speech

circumlocutions concerning what constitutes torture

circumlocutory

ˌsər-kəm-ˈlä-kyə-ˌtȯr-ē How to pronounce circumlocution (audio)

adjective

Did you know?

In The King's English, grammarian H. W. Fowler advised, "Prefer the single word to the circumlocution." Alas, that good advice was not followed by the framers of circumlocution. They actually used two terms in forming that word for unnecessarily verbose prose or speech. But their choices were apt; circumlocution derives from the Latin circum-, meaning "around," and locutio, meaning "speech"—so it literally means "roundabout speech." Since at least the early 16th century, English writers have used circumlocution with disdain, naming a thing to stop, or better yet, to avoid altogether. Charles Dickens even used it to satirize political runarounds in the 1857 novel Little Dorrit with the creation of the fictional Circumlocution Office, a government department that delayed the dissemination of information and just about everything else.

Example Sentences

He was criticized for his use of circumlocution. I'm trying to avoid circumlocutions in my writing.

Recent Examples on the Web Powell’s statement yesterday (September 22) is the masterpiece of its type, building upon fifteen months of this playful circumlocution, downshifting into bureaucratic blandness.

George Calhoun, Forbes, 23 Sep. 2021 But the national crisis in policing and the response to it isn’t a matter of arid elite debate or familiar political circumlocution and compromise anymore.

David Roth, The New Republic, 11 June 2020 These circumlocutions are meant to emphasize the fact that Africans traded like chattel were not, in their essence, slaves but human beings.

Lionel Shriver, Harper's magazine, 25 Nov. 2019 Although incredibly popular, with 60% approval ratings, Ahok was considered by many to be a divisive figure, by virtue both of his minority status and of his bluntness, which ran counter to Javanese traditions of deference and circumlocution.

The Economist, 12 Apr. 2018 Mungiu, like many Romanian directors, has a sadistic streak for circumlocution.

Jordan Hoffman, VanityFair.com, 6 Apr. 2017

单词	circumlocutory
释义	circumlocution noun cir·cum·lo·cu·tion ˌsər-kəm-lō-ˈkyü-shən 1 : the use of an unnecessarily large number of words to express an idea had no patience with diplomatic circumlocutions 2 : evasion in speech circumlocutions concerning what constitutes torture circumlocutory ˌsər-kəm-ˈlä-kyə-ˌtȯr-ē adjective Did you know? In The King's English, grammarian H. W. Fowler advised, "Prefer the single word to the circumlocution." Alas, that good advice was not followed by the framers of circumlocution. They actually used two terms in forming that word for unnecessarily verbose prose or speech. But their choices were apt; circumlocution derives from the Latin circum-, meaning "around," and locutio, meaning "speech"—so it literally means "roundabout speech." Since at least the early 16th century, English writers have used circumlocution with disdain, naming a thing to stop, or better yet, to avoid altogether. Charles Dickens even used it to satirize political runarounds in the 1857 novel Little Dorrit with the creation of the fictional Circumlocution Office, a government department that delayed the dissemination of information and just about everything else. Synonyms equivocation shuffle tergiversation See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences He was criticized for his use of circumlocution. I'm trying to avoid circumlocutions in my writing. Recent Examples on the Web Powell’s statement yesterday (September 22) is the masterpiece of its type, building upon fifteen months of this playful circumlocution, downshifting into bureaucratic blandness. George Calhoun, Forbes, 23 Sep. 2021 But the national crisis in policing and the response to it isn’t a matter of arid elite debate or familiar political circumlocution and compromise anymore. David Roth, The New Republic, 11 June 2020 These circumlocutions are meant to emphasize the fact that Africans traded like chattel were not, in their essence, slaves but human beings. Lionel Shriver, Harper's magazine, 25 Nov. 2019 Although incredibly popular, with 60% approval ratings, Ahok was considered by many to be a divisive figure, by virtue both of his minority status and of his bluntness, which ran counter to Javanese traditions of deference and circumlocution. The Economist, 12 Apr. 2018 Mungiu, like many Romanian directors, has a sadistic streak for circumlocution. Jordan Hoffman, VanityFair.com, 6 Apr. 2017 Word History Etymology Middle English circumlocucyon, from Latin circumlocution-, circumlocutio, from circum- + locutio speech, from loqui to speak First Known Use circa 1518, in the meaning defined at sense 1 circumlocutory adjective as in rambling using or containing more words than necessary to express an idea the studio's statement that "the film's earnings did not live up to expectations" was a circumlocutory admission that the movie was a flop Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance rambling prolix verbose pleonastic wordy circuitous diffuse exaggerated talkative logorrheic long-winded conversational garrulous communicative redundant tautological loquacious voluble periphrastic tautologous talky windy repetitious gabby chatty bombastic grandiloquent gaseous hifalutin embellished gassy embroidered highfalutin Antonyms & Near Antonyms terse pithy concise succinct epigrammatic short compact brief aphoristic sententious crisp summary compendious abbreviated laconic blunt condensed curt brusque abridged abrupt shortened snippy brusk See More
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circumlocution

noun

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

adjective