verbiage

American  

[vur-bee-ij] / ˈvɜr bi ɪdʒ /

noun

1. overabundance or superfluity of words, as in writing or speech; wordiness; verbosity.

2. manner or style of expressing something in words; wording.

   a manual of official verbiage.

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verbiage British  

/ ˈvɜːbɪɪdʒ /

noun

1. the excessive and often meaningless use of words; verbosity

2. rare diction; wording

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Etymology

Origin of verbiage

First recorded in 1715–25; from French, from Middle French verbi(er) “to gabble” (also guerbloier, verboier, werbler, with a change in spelling by association with verbe “word,” from Germanic; verb, warble ¹ ( def. ) ) + -age -age

Example Sentences

So little of Mr. Carlson’s recent verbiage bears scrutiny that I’m left to wonder what it’s all about.

From The Wall Street Journal

The opposite side of the document once had verbiage, but the image has faded with age and is impossible to decipher, despite numerous attempts by modern science.

From Literature

Philosophy has always had to defend itself against the charge that it is empty verbiage, unscientific speculation.

From The Wall Street Journal

It’s one of those things where the verbiage that everyone uses is “attached.”

From Salon

On game day, Verse encouraged and welcomed the colorful verbiage that came his way, and he recorded two of the Rams’ seven sacks in a 28-22 defeat.

From Los Angeles Times