verbalism

American  

[vur-buh-liz-uhm] / ˈvɜr bəˌlɪz əm /

noun

1. a verbal expression, as a word or phrase.

2. the way in which something is worded; choice of words; phrasing.

3. a phrase or sentence having little or no meaning.

4. a use of words considered as predominating over or obscuring ideas or reality; verbiage.

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verbalism British  

/ ˈvɜːbəˌlɪzəm /

noun

1. a verbal expression; phrase or word

2. an exaggerated emphasis on the importance of words by the uncritical acceptance of assertions in place of explanations, the use of rhetorical style, etc

3. a statement lacking real content, esp a cliché

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Etymology

Origin of verbalism

First recorded in 1780–90; verbal + -ism

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

verbalism

Through the echoes of the new verbalism, one can sense the distress of that crystal spirit, George Orwell.

From Time Magazine Archive

We may surround the subject with a vague and attractive idealistic verbalism, but we come back to this as a starting point.

From Theism or Atheism The Great Alternative by Chapman Cohen

The impotent verbalism of the formal treatment of judgment appears in another way when the question is raised how a 'true' judgment is to be distinguished from a 'false.'

From Pragmatism by D. L. Murray

Perhaps more than anyone else, the Fabians are responsible for turning English socialist thought from the verbalism of the Marxian disciples to the actualities of English political life.

From A Preface to Politics by Walter Lippmann

But there is always much verbalism in idealism.

From The Mind and the Brain Being the Authorised Translation of L'Âme et le Corps by Alfred Binet