prolix

Prolix is an adjective used to describe speech or writing that is tediously long and wordy. The related noun prolixity denotes the quality of being prolix. The term derives from Latin prolixus, meaning extended or drawn out.

Prolix prose features long sentences with multiple subordinate clauses, frequent digressions, and a high density of qualifiers and circumlocutions. It is often contrasted with concision and clarity. Prolixity has historical association with ornate or Baroque styles, ceremonial rhetoric, and some 18th- and 19th-century works where elaboration was pursued for emphasis or effect. In modern criticism, prolix writing is typically viewed as a flaw that can impede comprehension, though some authors employ it deliberately for mood, authority, or satire.

Editors and readers commonly reduce prolix passages, favoring tighter syntax and more direct expression. Readability measures consider sentence length, word choice, and redundancy when assessing prolixity. Prolix can be distinguished from loquacity (talkativeness) and from circumlocution, which implies indirectness rather than sheer length.

Related terms include verbosity, wordiness, circumlocution, and readability.