perifraser

Perifraser is a term used in linguistics and literary studies to describe a person who habitually uses periphrasis, or circumlocutory phrasing, to express ideas. Periphrasis is a rhetorical device in which a concept is described rather than stated directly, often by a descriptive phrase or a longer expression.

The word perifraser is derived from periphrasis, which comes from Greek and Latin roots meaning “around speaking.” A perifraser thus tends to choose longer, more descriptive formulations instead of concise terms. This habit can serve various purposes, including stylistic emphasis, tone regulation, euphemism, or a desire to avoid bluntness.

In practice, perifraseurs may appear in narrative prose, dialogue, or oratory, where their speech patterns contribute to character voice or rhetorical effect. The approach can enhance imagery, create formality, or convey nuance that a brief term might not capture. However, heavy or frequent circumlocution is often criticized as wordy or evasive, and some readers may perceive it as a distraction from clarity.

Not to be confused with paraphrase, which restates content in different words, or with general circumlocution, which is any roundabout way of speaking, the perifraser is specifically identified by a consistent preference for descriptive phrasing over concise expressions.

See also: periphrasis, circumlocution, paraphrase, rhetorical device.