Circumlocution — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˌsər-kəm-lō-ˈkyü-shən/ cir·cum·lo·cu·tion

Meaning & Definition of Circumlocution

Circumlocution (noun)

  1. the use of an unnecessarily large number of words to express an idea
  2. evasion in speech

Circumlocution (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. deliberate evasion in speech

    "rather than answering the question directly, he resorted to circumlocution, which made her suspect that he was hiding something"

    similar: equivocation, shuffle, tergiversation
    related: quibbling, ambiguity, ambiguousness, equivocalness, murkiness, nebulousness, obscureness, obscurity, opacity
    near: candor, directness, forthrightness, frankness, openheartedness, openness, plainness, plumpness, straightforwardness

  2. the use of too many words to express an idea

    "your papers have to be five pages long, but that's five pages of substance, not circumlocution"

    similar: diffuseness, diffusion, garrulity, garrulousness, logorrhea, long-windedness, periphrasis, prolixity, redundancy, verbalism, verbiage, verboseness, verbosity, windiness, wordage, wordiness
    related: circuitousness, circularity, digressiveness, pleonasm, tautology, reiteration, repetition, repetitiousness, repetitiveness, embellishment, embroidering, exaggeration, hyperbole, overstatement
    near: brevity, briefness, compactness, conciseness, concision, crispness, pithiness, succinctness, terseness

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Circumlocution

The most common words with a similar meaning to Circumlocution:

equivocation, shuffle, tergiversation, diffuseness, diffusion, garrulity, garrulousness, logorrhea, long-windedness, periphrasis, prolixity, redundancy, verbalism, verbiage, verboseness, verbosity, windiness, wordage, wordiness

Related Words for Circumlocution

quibbling, ambiguity, ambiguousness, equivocalness, murkiness, nebulousness, obscureness, obscurity, opacity, circuitousness, circularity, digressiveness, pleonasm, tautology, reiteration, repetition, repetitiousness, repetitiveness, embellishment, embroidering, exaggeration, hyperbole, overstatement

Near Antonyms of Circumlocution

candor, directness, forthrightness, frankness, openheartedness, openness, plainness, plumpness, straightforwardness, brevity, briefness, compactness, conciseness, concision, crispness, pithiness, succinctness, terseness

Word Forms of Circumlocution

Derived words: circumlocutory (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Circumlocution

Middle English circumlocucyon, from Latin circumlocution-, circumlocutio, from circum- + locutio speech, from loqui to speak

First known use: circa 1518

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Circumlocution

Frequently Asked Questions about Circumlocution

What does "Circumlocution" mean?

"Circumlocution" means the use of an unnecessarily large number of words to express an idea. As a noun, it is defined as: the use of an unnecessarily large number of words to express an idea. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Circumlocution"?

Other words for "Circumlocution" include equivocation, shuffle, tergiversation, diffuseness, diffusion, garrulity, garrulousness and logorrhea. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Circumlocution" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Circumlocution"?

There are 42 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Circumlocution". Common alternatives include equivocation, shuffle, tergiversation, diffuseness, diffusion, garrulity, garrulousness, logorrhea, long-windedness and periphrasis.

How do you use "Circumlocution" in a sentence?

Examples of "Circumlocution" in a sentence: "rather than answering the question directly, he resorted to circumlocution, which made her suspect that he was hiding something"; "your papers have to be five pages long, but that's five pages of substance, not circumlocution".

Is "Circumlocution" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Circumlocution" is a noun.

Is "Circumlocution" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Circumlocution" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Circumlocution"?

"Circumlocution" is pronounced /ˌsər-kəm-lō-ˈkyü-shən/ and divided into syllables as cir·cum·lo·cu·tion.

What is the origin of the word "Circumlocution"?

"Circumlocution" comes from Middle English circumlocucyon, from Latin circumlocution-, circumlocutio, from circum- + locutio speech, from loqui to speak. First known use: circa 1518.