circumlocution

Meaning

1. (uncountable) A roundabout or indirect way of speaking; thus
2. (uncountable) A roundabout or indirect way of speaking; thus:
3. (uncountable) A roundabout or indirect way of speaking; thus:
4. (countable) An instance of such usage; a roundabout expression, whether an inadvisable one or a necessary one.

Synonyms

periphrasis

euphemism

euphuism

indirectness

roundabout

indirect expression

ambage

loquacity

obliqueness

roving

verbosity

roundabout expression

periphrase

rambling discourse

roundaboutation

circumbendibus

diffuseness

discursiveness

euphemistic

garrulity

indirect

Translations

périphrase

circonlocuzione

circunlocución

circonlocution

circunlóquio

περίφραση

perífrasis

Umschreibung

circunlocução

perifrasi

circumloqui

perífrasi

arzigogolo

circumlocució

πολυλογία

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˌsɜːkəmləˈkjuːʃən/

Etymology

From Latin circumlocūtiō (“the act of speaking around; circumlocution, periphrasis”). By surface analysis, circum- (“around”) + locution (“talk”), thus "getting around (a problem) in speaking or writing". Probably a calque of Ancient Greek περίφρασις (períphrasis, “periphrasis”).