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# circumlocution

noun (circumlocution, uncountable; a circumlocution, circumlocutions)

«circumlocution» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (formal) Circumlocution is using many words to say something that could be said simply, often to avoid saying it directly. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/circumlocution/#m1)
2. A circumlocution is one such roundabout phrase. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/circumlocution/#m2)

### In the lessons

In English lessons pupils meet circumlocution when studying euphemisms and politicians' talk: «not entirely truthful» instead of «lying». Teachers warn against it in writing because it hides the meaning. It is the stiff exam word for «talking around the point».

### Examples

- «Passed away» is a gentle circumlocution for «died». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/circumlocution/#x1)
- The minister's answer was pure circumlocution. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/circumlocution/#x2)
- Cut the circumlocution and tell me what happened. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/circumlocution/#x3)
- «Experiencing a cash-flow problem» is a circumlocution for «having no money». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/circumlocution/#x4)
- Good writers avoid circumlocution. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/circumlocution/#x5)
- His speech was full of circumlocution. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/circumlocution/#x6)

### Note

Formal word. From Latin «circum» (around) and «locution» (speaking). Pronounced «sir-kum-loh-KYOO-shun».

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «circumlocution» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/circumlocution/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«circumlocution» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/circumlocution.html) on Mova free.