prolixity

[ proh-lik-si-tee ]

noun

1. the state or quality of being unnecessarily or tediously wordy; verbosity:

   The book offers food for thought but, for all its prolixity, fails to effectively explain what is at the core of irony as a rhetorical strategy.

2. a tendency to speak or write at great or tedious length:

   As a communicator, the official suffers from a lethal mix of ailments: terminal prolixity, rampant hyperbole, and a preference for bureaucratic jargon.

Other Words From

• o·ver·pro·lix·i·ty noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of prolixity¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Middle French prolixité “lengthiness, verbosity,” from Late Latin prōlixitāt- (inflectional stem prōlixitās ) “tedious length in speech or writing,” from Latin: “extension in time or space”; prolix ( def )

Example Sentences

If I selected lucid and simple extracts, they would give no idea of the intricacy and prolixity of Duns.

From Project Gutenberg

Mrs. G. is extremely satisfied with my diligence and prolixity; but seems to wish that we would settle her account with Gilbert.

From Project Gutenberg

Soundings and courses and distances, are detailed with the tedious prolixity, and probably, with the uncertainty of the era.

From Project Gutenberg

Her patriotism knew no bounds, and her prolixity was much on the same scale.

From Project Gutenberg

Grotius's great attention was to avoid prolixity and confusion in his pleadings.

From Project Gutenberg