circumlocution

Circumlocution is the use of an indirect, roundabout, or wordy way of speaking in order to describe something without naming it directly. It can be deliberate or unconscious. The word derives from Latin circumlocutio, from circum 'around' and loqui 'to speak.'

In rhetoric and literature, circumlocution can function as a stylistic device, producing a nuanced or humorous effect, or as a way to hedge statements. It also arises in everyday speech when a speaker avoids a direct label or a taboo term. In political, bureaucratic, or journalistic contexts, circumlocution is often criticized as obfuscation or excessive politeness, potentially delaying accountability or clarity. An example might be describing a simple object as “the thing with four wheels that you sit on and drive” instead of saying “car,” or saying “the act of failing to meet the required standard” instead of “failure.”

Related concepts include periphrasis, euphemism, and verbosity. Periphrasis is the broader use of descriptive phrases to express a simple idea; euphemism substitutes a softened term; verbosity denotes excessive wordiness. Circumlocution focuses on indirectness and a detour in the path to the point, whereas these related terms describe different aspects of language use.

By examining circumlocution, readers can distinguish style from vagueness and assess whether the language serves clarity, politeness, or rhetorical effect.