Meanings
- conjunctivenot comparableIn other words. Used to introduce a clarification, simplification, or explanation
One of the best things about works of music is that they are repeatable, that is to say that one can listen to the same work over and over without becoming tired of it.
1 more example
Mrs. Severe's house, The Hollies, was the first in the road, as the road was generally regarded—that is to say, from the direction of the station.
1923, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], “(please specify the page)”, in The Eyes of Max Carrados, London: Grant Richards, →OCLCSynonyms: that is, i.e., better put, i.e., in other words, put differently, that is, to put it another way
Synonyms & antonyms
adverbIn other words. Used to introduce a clarification, simplification, or explanation
More synonyms by meaning
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Frenchc'est-à-dire
- Englishthat is to say
Calque of French c'est-à-dire.
More words from French
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Polish mianowicie, czyli
- mianowiciein other words
- czyliin other words
- to znaczyin other words
- to jestin other words
Spanish es decir
- es decirin other words
Cite this entry
that is to say. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/that%20is%20to%20say
“that is to say.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/that%20is%20to%20say. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “that is to say,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/that%20is%20to%20say.
Source: that is to say on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.