pleonasm

[plee-uh-naz-uhm]

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.

pleonasm

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• pleonastic adjective
• pleonastically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of pleonasm¹

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”; pleo-

Word History and Origins

Origin of pleonasm¹

C16: from Latin pleonasmus, from Greek pleonasmos excess, from pleonazein to be redundant

Example Sentences

Technically speaking, that expression is a pleonasm—a redundant description—since all facts are, by definition, true.

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It’s a pleonasm to say that these performances, which took place in public, were never intended for domestic listening; they have the sort of intensity that’s incongruous with the quiet enjoyment of home.

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To call it 'the will to live' is therefore a pleonasm.

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Our attention is called to its "unique transcendence"—which is a penny-a-lining pleonasm.

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At risk of being a tad picky, I should point out that Richard's letter about pedantry offered that gift to pedants of including a pleonasm, when he states that he would, 'lose in heroic failure'.

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