circumlocution

«circumlocution» in Mova's school dictionary: using many words to say something that could be said… — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples.

part of speech

noun (circumlocution, uncountable; a circumlocution, circumlocutions)

meaning for a pupil

1) (formal) Circumlocution is using many words to say something that could be said simply, often to avoid saying it directly. tree →

2) A circumlocution is one such roundabout phrase. tree →

sense in the lessons

In English lessons pupils meet circumlocution when studying euphemisms and politicians' talk: «not entirely truthful» instead of «lying». Teachers warn against it in writing because it hides the meaning. It is the stiff exam word for «talking around the point».

examples

• «Passed away» is a gentle circumlocution for «died». tree →
• The minister's answer was pure circumlocution. tree →
• Cut the circumlocution and tell me what happened. tree →
• «Experiencing a cash-flow problem» is a circumlocution for «having no money». tree →
• Good writers avoid circumlocution. tree →
• His speech was full of circumlocution. tree →

note

Formal word. From Latin «circum» (around) and «locution» (speaking). Pronounced «sir-kum-loh-KYOO-shun».

Trees and pragmatics

Every meaning and example of «circumlocution» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.