1. a statement that is necessarily true because it repeats the same idea in different words
Usage: logic; rhetoric
2. needless repetition of an idea using different words

Examples

• The phrase ‘free gift’ is a tautology since all gifts are free by definition.
• His speech was full of tautologies that added no new information.
• The statement ‘either it will rain or it won’t rain’ is a logical tautology.
• She criticized the report for its tautologies and wordiness.
• In logic class, we learned that tautologies are always true regardless of circumstances.
• The writer’s tendency toward tautology made his prose unnecessarily verbose.