circumlocution

cir·cum·lo·cu·tion

C0365900 (sûr′kəm-lō-kyo͞o′shən)n.1. The use of unnecessarily wordy language, especially in being vague or evasive.2. A roundabout or evasive expression: Circumlocutions like "go to the bathroom" are often used in place of words that are considered vulgar or indelicate.

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[Middle English circumlocucioun, from Latin circumlocūtiō, circumlocūtiōn-, from circumlocūtus, past participle of circumloquī : circum-, circum- + loquī, to speak; see tolk^w- in Indo-European roots.]

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cir′cum·loc′u·to′ri·ly (-lŏk′yə-tôr′ə-lē) adv.cir′cum·loc′u·to′ry (-tôr′ē) adj.

circumlocution

(ˌsɜːkəmləˈkjuːʃən) n1. an indirect way of expressing something2. an indirect expression circumlocutory adj

cir•cum•lo•cu•tion

(ˌsɜr kəm loʊˈkyu ʃən)

n. 1. a roundabout or indirect way of speaking; the use of more words than necessary to express an idea. 2. a roundabout expression. [1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin circumlocūtiō] cir`cum•loc′u•to`ry (-ˈlɒk yəˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i) adj.

circumlocution

An indirect way of saying something, or the use of indirect modes of expression.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	circumlocution - a style that involves indirect ways of expressing thingsambage, periphrasisverboseness, verbosity - an expressive style that uses excessive or empty words
	2.	circumlocution - an indirect way of expressing somethingindirect expressionequivocation, evasion - a statement that is not literally false but that cleverly avoids an unpleasant truth

circumlocution

noun indirectness, redundancy, euphemism, beating about the bush (informal), wordiness, diffuseness, prolixity, discursiveness He is long-winded and prone to circumlocution in his public speeches.

Translations

périphrasearzigogolocirconlocuzione