1. the use of many words to express something that could be said more briefly; a roundabout way of speaking or writing
Usage: rhetoric; linguistics

Examples

• The politician’s speech was full of periphrasis, taking twenty minutes to say what could have been said in five.
• Instead of saying ‘I’m tired,’ she used periphrasis: ‘I find myself in a state of considerable physical and mental exhaustion.’
• The legal document’s periphrasis made it nearly impossible for ordinary citizens to understand.
• His writing teacher criticized his tendency toward periphrasis and urged him to be more direct.
• The contract was filled with unnecessary periphrasis that obscured its actual meaning.
• She avoided periphrasis in her presentation, keeping her points clear and concise.