pleonasm

American  

[plee-uh-naz-uhm] / ˈpli əˌnæz əm /

noun

1. the use of more words than are necessary to express an idea; redundancy.

2. an instance of this, as free gift or true fact.

3. a redundant word or expression.

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pleonasm British  

/ ˈpliːəˌnæzəm /

noun

1. the use of more words than necessary or an instance of this, such as a tiny little child

2. a word or phrase that is superfluous

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• pleonastically
  adverb
• pleonastic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of pleonasm

First recorded in 1580–90; from Late Latin pleonasmus, from Greek pleonasmós “redundancy, surplus,” derivative of pleonázein “to be or have more than enough,” itself derivative of pleíōn “more”; see pleo-

Explanation

Pleonasm is using more words than you need to, either accidentally or deliberately. An example of pleonasm? "She picked up the tiny little baby kitten." The Greek root word in pleonasm is pleonazein, which describes something as more than enough. Used accidentally, a pleonasm is just long-winded wordiness, like a sentence that includes far more words than is necessary. Used on purpose, pleonasm is a tool used by writers and speakers to emphasize something or clarify an idea through repetition. This helps audiences remember main ideas as they listen or read.

Example Sentences

Note he won’t shout loudly – that’s known as a pleonasm, when more words than necessary are used.

From The Guardian • Apr. 29, 2019

The phrase 'think for one's self' is a pleonasm.

From Time Magazine Archive

To say, that I keep it alone, separate from the rest, is a pleonasm which scarcely any nicety declines.

From Notes to Shakespeare — Volume 01: Comedies by Johnson, Samuel

This is implied in the omitted words, which Mr. Reddie—whose omission would have been dishonest if he had seen their meaning—no doubt took for pleonasm, superfluity, overmuchness.

From A Budget of Paradoxes, Volume II by Smith, David Eugene

This consideration will remove the supposed pleonasm in the Saxon phrase, which is here literally translated.

From The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle by Ingram, J. H. (James Henry)