periphrasis

pe·riph·ra·sis

noun \pə-ˈri-frə-səs\

plural pe·riph·ra·ses\-ˌsēz\

Definition of PERIPHRASIS

1

: use of a longer phrasing in place of a possible shorter form of expression

2

: an instance of periphrasis

Examples of PERIPHRASIS

1. <congressional hearings into the Watergate scandal were marked by an orgy of periphrasis, the expression “at this point in time” being a memorable example>

Origin of PERIPHRASIS

Latin, from Greek, from periphrazein to express periphrastically, from peri- + phrazein to point out

First Known Use: 1533

Related to PERIPHRASIS

Synonyms

circumlocution, diffuseness, diffusion, garrulity, garrulousness, logorrhea, long-windedness, verbiage, prolixity, redundancy, verbalism, verboseness, verbosity, windiness, wordage, wordiness

Related Words

circuitousness, circularity, digressiveness; pleonasm, tautology; reiteration, repetition, repetitiousness, repetitiveness; embellishment, embroidering, exaggeration, hyperbole, overstatement

Near Antonyms

brevity, briefness, compactness, conciseness, concision, crispness, pithiness, succinctness, terseness