verbosity
Americannoun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of verbosity
From the Late Latin word verbōsitās, dating back to 1535–45. See verbose, -ity
Explanation
Verbosity is a quality possessed by people who talk a lot while saying very little at all. The root verb — also seen in verbal — is a clue this word has to do with talking. Specifically, verbosity is the quality of gabbing and blabbing at length. That might sound like a talent, and it sort of is, but usually the words are a bit empty. You could be accused of verbosity if you like to exaggerate or wax poetic. Most of the time, verbosity is empty talk — a whole lot of nothing dressed up in too many words.
Vocabulary lists containing verbosity
Wonder
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The Color Purple
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Isaac's Storm
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Bronner inherited his verbosity and gumption from his grandfather, Emanuel Bronner, who originally crammed all-caps, feel-good credos onto the labels of his soap bottles in the 1940s.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 9, 2026
Nuzzi describes the grief she feels over this betrayal, but from a distance, shrouded in verbosity.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 3, 2025
It will also let developers decide their AI's style of tone and verbosity.
From Reuters ● Mar. 15, 2023
At a reception after the event, there were canapés, “Centenary Sidecars” and jokes about the verbosity of writers.
From New York Times ● Sep. 13, 2022
The enactments of the two preceding legislatures had been published only in manuscript, a method of promulgation which one would think might have curbed verbosity.
From Vermont A Study of Independence by Rowland E. (Evans) Robinson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
