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pleonasm
[ plee-uh-naz-uhm ]
/ ˈpli əˌnæz əm /
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This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
noun
the use of more words than are necessary to express an idea; redundancy.
an instance of this, as free gift or true fact.
a redundant word or expression.
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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-
OTHER WORDS FROM pleonasm
ple·o·nas·tic, adjectiveple·o·nas·ti·cal·ly, adverbWords nearby pleonasm
pleochroic, pleochroism, pleomorphic, pleomorphism, pleon, pleonasm, pleonastic, pleopod, pleoptics, plerion, plerocercoid
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use pleonasm in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for pleonasm
pleonasm
/ (ˈpliːəˌnæzəm) /
noun rhetoric
the use of more words than necessary or an instance of this, such as a tiny little child
a word or phrase that is superfluous
Derived forms of pleonasm
pleonastic, adjectivepleonastically, adverbWord Origin for pleonasm
C16: from Latin pleonasmus, from Greek pleonasmos excess, from pleonazein to be redundant
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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