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pleonasm

Syllabification: (ple·o·nasm)
Pronunciation: /ˈplēəˌnazəm/

Definition of pleonasm

noun

  • the use of more words than are necessary to convey meaning (e.g., see with one’s eyes), either as a fault of style or for emphasis.

Derivatives

pleonastic

Pronunciation: /ˌplēəˈnastik/

adjective

pleonastically

Pronunciation: /ˌplēəˈnastik(ə)lē/

adverb

Origin:

mid 16th century: via late Latin from Greek pleonasmos, from pleonazein 'be superfluous'

pleonasm in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of pleonasm in the British & World English dictionary

Nearby words

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