periphrasis

noun pe·riph·ra·sis \pə-ˈri-frə-səs\

plural pe·riph·ra·ses\-ˌsēz\

Definition of PERIPHRASIS

: use of a longer phrasing in place of a possible shorter form of expression

: an instance of periphrasis

Latin, from Greek, from periphrazein to express periphrastically, from peri- + phrazein to point out

First Known Use: 1533

Synonyms: circumlocution, diffuseness, diffusion, garrulity, garrulousness, logorrhea, long-windedness, verbiage, prolixity, redundancy, verbalism, verboseness, verbosity, windiness, wordage, wordiness

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