circumlocutionary

UK/ˌsɜːkəmləˈkjuːʃənəɹi/US/ˌsɝːkəmləˈkjuːʃəˌnɛɹi/

adjective

Articulated in a roundabout manner; tautological or with repetitive language.

“The old man's rambling yarn was circumlocutionary.”

Scrabble 28
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Meanings

adjectivecircumlocutionary (comparative more circumlocutionary, superlative most circumlocutionary)

comparative more circumlocutionary · superlative most circumlocutionary

  1. Articulated in a roundabout manner; tautological or with repetitive language.

    The old man's rambling yarn was circumlocutionary.

  2. Evasive, avoiding difficult questions or key points.

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
circumlocutorywinding

Origin

From circumlocution + -ary.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Finnish kiertelevä, ympäripyöreä
  • kierteleväEvasive, avoiding difficult questions or key points
  • ympäripyöreäEvasive, avoiding difficult questions or key points
Spanish circunloquial, circunloquial
  • circunloquialarticulated in a roundabout manner
  • circunloquialEvasive, avoiding difficult questions or key points
Swedish undanglidande
  • undanglidandeEvasive, avoiding difficult questions or key points
Cite this entry
APA

circumlocutionary. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/circumlocutionary

MLA

“circumlocutionary.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/circumlocutionary. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “circumlocutionary,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/circumlocutionary.

Source: circumlocutionary on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.