Circumlocution: meaning, definitions and examples

Use this when someone is speaking in a roundabout way, using many words to say something simple. It often implies complexity or an attempt to avoid directly answering a question.

• The politician's speech was full of circumlocution, making it hard to understand his actual position
• Her explanation was so full of circumlocution that I lost track of what she was trying to say

Use this to describe the act of avoiding a direct answer or avoiding responsibility. It often has a negative connotation of avoiding the truth.

• His evasion of the reporter's questions raised suspicions
• She was skilled in the art of evasion, always dodging difficult conversations

This word is useful when someone is being deliberately ambiguous or unclear, often to deceive or mislead. It often suggests dishonesty.

• His equivocation about the project's delays made it evident he was hiding something
• The lawyer's equivocation left the jury uncertain about the truth

This word describes the use of too many words, often making the communication unnecessarily long and complicated. It generally has a negative connotation of being inefficient.

• The author's verbosity made the book difficult to read
• Despite his verbosity, he failed to make a clear point