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paraphrase

[ par-uh-freyz ]
/ ˈpær əˌfreɪz /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR paraphrase ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a restatement of a text or passage giving the meaning in another form, as for clearness; rewording.
the act or process of restating or rewording.

verb (used with object), par·a·phrased, par·a·phras·ing.

to render the meaning of in a paraphrase: to paraphrase a technical paper for lay readers.

verb (used without object), par·a·phrased, par·a·phras·ing.

to make a paraphrase or paraphrases.

Words related to paraphrase

transcribe, rephrase, rehash, explanation, summary, rendering, version, restatement, rendition, digest, rephrasing, render, recapitulate, reword, restate, summarize, disambiguate

Words nearby paraphrase

paraphasia, paraphernalia, paraphia, paraphilia, paraphimosis, paraphrase, paraphrasis, paraphrast, paraphrastic, paraphyletic, paraphysis

Origin of paraphrase

1540–50; < Middle French < Latin paraphrasis < Greek paráphrasis. See para-1, phrase

SYNONYMS FOR paraphrase

1 See translation.
3 summarize; explain.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR paraphrase ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM paraphrase

par·a·phras·a·ble, adjectivepar·a·phras·er, nounmis·par·a·phrase, verb, mis·par·a·phrased, mis·par·a·phras·ing.un·par·a·phrased, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

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British Dictionary definitions for paraphrase

paraphrase
/ (ˈpærəˌfreɪz) /

noun

an expression of a statement or text in other words, esp in order to clarify
the practice of making paraphrases

verb

to put (something) into other words; restate (something)

Derived forms of paraphrase

paraphrastic (ˌpærəˈfræstɪk), adjective

Word Origin for paraphrase

C16: via French from Latin paraphrasis, from Greek, from paraphrazein to recount
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Cultural definitions for paraphrase

paraphrase

A restatement of speech or writing that retains the basic meaning while changing the words. A paraphrase often clarifies the original statement by putting it into words that are more easily understood.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.