Link Centre Dictionary

circumlocution

cir·cum·lo·cution

UK/ˌsɜːkəmləˈkjuːʃən/ US/ˌsɝkəmləˈkjuʃən/ uncommon

noun

1.

a style that involves indirect ways of expressing things

Synonyms
2.

an indirect way of expressing something

Synonyms

Origin

From Latin circumlocūtiō (“the act of speaking around; circumlocution, periphrasis”). By surface analysis, circum- (“around”) + locution (“talk”), thus "getting around (a problem) in speaking or writing". Probably a calque of Ancient Greek περίφρασις (períphrasis, “periphrasis”).

Phrases

  • beat around the bush
  • circumlocution office
  • go around the houses
  • mince matters
  • mince words

Related words

Broader terms

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.