circumlocution

American  

[sur-kuhm-loh-kyoo-shuhn] / ˌsɜr kəm loʊˈkju ʃən /

noun

• circumlocutions
  plural

1. a roundabout or indirect way of speaking; the use of more words than necessary to express an idea.

   Synonyms:

   prolixity, verbosity, rambling

2. a roundabout expression.

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circumlocution British  

/ ˌsɜːkəmləˈkjuːʃən /

noun

1. an indirect way of expressing something

2. an indirect expression

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circumlocution Cultural  

1. 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.”

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• circumlocutional
  adjective
• circumlocutionary
  adjective
• circumlocutory
  adjective
• uncircumlocutory
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• circumlocutions
  plural

Etymology

Origin of circumlocution

1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin circumlocūtiōn- (stem of circumlocūtiō ). See circum-, locution

Explanation

Circumlocution is a long, complicated word which means a long, complicated way of expressing something. To cut to the chase, circumlocution means beating around the bush. Circumlocution comes from the Latin words circum, "circle," and loqui, "to speak." So circumlocution is speaking in circles, going round and round in a wordy way without ever getting to the heart of the matter. It's an evasive style of argument, best employed when you really don't want to say what's on your mind.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

circumlocution circumlocutions

But in terms of its actual content, the statement was pretty thin gruel, bristling with public relations-style circumlocution and vagueness.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 27, 2026

So what’s with all the indirection and artful circumlocution and what-the-meaning-of-is-is tightrope walking?

From Salon ● May 30, 2019

It’s as if, for Ros, circumlocution and literature are essentially synonymous.

From Slate ● Jan. 23, 2013

He mocked the confusing jargon and circumlocution of physicians and he pressed for the re-examination by the London School of Economics of untrustworthy medical statistics.

From The Guardian ● Jul. 13, 2012

He shuddered at his own craven circumlocution, using so meaningless a word to obscure so hideous a truth.

From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor

But some are prone to ludicrous circumlocutions like “Johnny faces challenges in the lived experience of interactions with his peer group in educational spaces,” instead of “Johnny doesn’t get along with his classmates.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026

Their circumlocutions were as entrancing as their ability to find the most precisely ironic words for difficult-to-name realities.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2025

The story rushes forwards, with dizzying circumlocutions, from there.

From The Guardian ● Mar. 20, 2019

It extended even to matters of language: Although his English was fluent, he peppered it with French circumlocutions and grammatical constructions.

From Washington Post ● Feb. 16, 2016

She was weary of repetitions, weary of circumlocutions, weary of everything.

From "I, Robot" by Isaac Asimov