Standard Lemma guide

circumlocutionary

adj · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˌsɜːkəmləˈkjuːʃənəɹi/
  • US: /ˌsɝːkəmləˈkjuːʃəˌnɛɹi/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Articulated in a roundabout manner; tautological or with repetitive language.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • The old man's rambling yarn was circumlocutionary.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Evasive, avoiding difficult questions or key points.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English circumlocution Proto-Indo-European *-yósder. Proto-Italic *-āzios Latin -āriusder. Middle English -arie English -ary English circumlocutionary From circumlocution + -ary.

Across languages

Translations

5 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Spanish: circunloquial — articulated in a roundabout manner
  • Finnish: kiertelevä — Evasive, avoiding difficult questions or key points
  • Finnish: ympäripyöreä — Evasive, avoiding difficult questions or key points
  • Spanish: circunloquial — Evasive, avoiding difficult questions or key points
  • Swedish: undanglidande — Evasive, avoiding difficult questions or key points