Tautology: meaning, definitions and examples
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tautology
[ tɔːˈtɒləʤi ]
logical redundancy
A tautology is a statement that is true by necessity or by virtue of its logical form. In logic, it refers to a formula or assertion that cannot be false in any possible interpretation, often introducing redundancy. Tautologies are often used in rhetorical situations to emphasize a point, but they can also be seen as a lack of meaningful content.
Synonyms
pleonasm, redundancy, repetition.
Examples of usage
- It is what it is.
- Free gift is a tautology.
- A round circle is an example of tautology.
- Either it will rain tomorrow or it will not.
Translations
Translations of the word "tautology" in other languages:
🇵🇹 tautologia
🇮🇳 तुलनात्मकता
🇩🇪 Tautologie
🇮🇩 tautologi
🇺🇦 таутологія
🇵🇱 tautologia
🇯🇵 同義反復
🇫🇷 tautologie
🇪🇸 tautología
🇹🇷 tautoloji
🇰🇷 동의어 반복
🇸🇦 التكرار المفرط
🇨🇿 tautologie
🇸🇰 tautológia
🇨🇳 同义反复
🇸🇮 tautologija
🇮🇸 tautología
🇰🇿 таутоология
🇬🇪 ტავტოლოგია
🇦🇿 tautologiya
🇲🇽 tautología
Etymology
The term 'tautology' comes from the Greek words 'tautós', meaning 'the same', and 'logia', meaning 'study of' or 'science'. It was introduced into English in the 16th century and has been used in philosophical and logical discussions ever since. The concept has played a significant role in the development of formal logic and language theory, guiding thinkers through the intricacies of affirmations and redundancy within arguments. Tautology is used to describe situations where words are combined in a way that is logically unnecessary but can serve to reinforce a point or idea. This redundancy can lead to clearer communication but may also detract from the intended meaning if overused or misapplied.