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
SYNONYMS FOR circumlocution
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, adjectiveWords nearby circumlocution
circumfluous,
circumfuse,
circumgyration,
circumincession,
circumjacent,
circumlocution,
circumlunar,
circumnavigate,
circumnutate,
circumnutation,
circumocular
Example sentences from the Web for circumlocutory
British Dictionary definitions for circumlocutory
circumlocution
/ (ˌsɜːkəmləˈkjuːʃən) /
noun
an indirect way of expressing something
an indirect expression
Derived forms of circumlocution
circumlocutory (ˌsɜːkəmˈlɒkjʊtərɪ, -trɪ), adjectiveCultural definitions for circumlocutory
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.”