pleonasm Hear it!

pleonasm definition

pleo·nasm (plēə naz′əm)

noun

  1. the use of more words than are necessary for the expression of an idea; redundancy (Ex.: “plenty enough”)
  2. an instance of this
  3. a redundant word or expression

Etymology: LL pleonasmus < Gr pleonasmos < pleonazein, to be in excess < pleon, neut. of pleōn, more, compar. of polys, much: see poly-

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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