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paraphrase

[ par-uh-freyz ]
/ ˈpær əˌfreɪz /
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See synonyms for: paraphrase / paraphrased / paraphrasing / paraphraser 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.
QUIZ
THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?
Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.
Question 1 of 7
In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…
candystring
candyfloss
candypuff
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of paraphrase

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

synonym study for paraphrase

1. See translation.

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. 2023

Words related to paraphrase

rephrase, transcribe, digest, explanation, rehash, rendering, rendition, restatement, rewording, summary, version, disambiguate, recapitulate, restate, summarize

How to use paraphrase in a sentence

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.
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