circumlocution

[ sur-kuhm-loh-kyoo-shuhn ]
/ ˌsɜr kəm loʊˈkyu ʃən /

noun

a roundabout or indirect way of speaking; the use of more words than necessary to express an idea.
a roundabout expression.

Origin of circumlocution

1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin circumlocūtiōn- (stem of circumlocūtiō). See circum-, locution

SYNONYMS FOR circumlocution

1 rambling, meandering, verbosity, prolixity.

OTHER WORDS FROM circumlocution

cir·cum·loc·u·to·ry [sur-kuhm-lok-yuh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] /ˌsɜr kəmˈlɒk yəˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i/, cir·cum·lo·cu·tion·al, cir·cum·lo·cu·tion·ar·y, adjective un·cir·cum·loc·u·to·ry, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for circumlocution

British Dictionary definitions for circumlocution

circumlocution
/ (ˌsɜːkəmləˈkjuːʃən) /

noun

an indirect way of expressing something
an indirect expression

Derived forms of circumlocution

circumlocutory (ˌsɜːkəmˈlɒkjʊtərɪ, -trɪ), adjective

Cultural definitions for circumlocution

circumlocution
[ (sur-kuhm-loh-kyooh-shuhn) ]

Roundabout speech or writing: “The driveway was not unlike that military training device known as an obstacle course” is a circumlocution for “The driveway resembled an obstacle course.” Circumlocution comes from Latin words meaning “speaking around.”