circumlocution
/ˌsɜːkəmləˈkjuːʃən/
"circumlocution" is a 14-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“circumlocution” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.
- Unranked
- below top-frequency English
- 14
- letters
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - A roundabout or indirect way of speaking; thus
Corpus desk
Index EN-circumlocution · circumlocution · English
circumlocution · unranked · 0 variants · 0 confusables
- FREQ-UNRANKED Unranked
- LEN-MEGA 14 letters
- VOW-6 6 vowels
- CONFUS-0 No pairs
- VAR-0 0 variants
- BOOK-THIN "C" thin
- PHOTO-UNK Peer pending
Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern
Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | circumlocution |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Noun |
| IPA | /ˌsɜːkəmləˈkjuːʃən/ |
| Letters | 14 |
| Misspellings tracked | 0 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Long-tail rank of “circumlocution” in English
Rare enough to double-check
circumlocution is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as anoun, transcribed /ˌsɜːkəmləˈkjuːʃən/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 4 senses are on record.
We couldn't generate a plausible misspelling set for circumlocution, and the word's spelling is regular enough that our generator found nothing worth flagging. Our confusable-pair dataset has no match for it, since its spelling is unusual enough that it doesn't cluster with a lookalike.
Etymologically, the entry records: From Latin circumlocūtiō (“the act of speaking around; circumlocution, periphrasis”). By surface analysis, circum- (“around”) + locution (“talk”), thus "getting around (a problem) in speaking or writing". Probably a calque of Ancient Greek περίφρασις (períp… The correct English form is circumlocution, spelled C-I-R-C-U-M-L-O-C-U-T-I-O-N.
Definition
- 1A roundabout or indirect way of speaking; thus
- 2A roundabout or indirect way of speaking; thus:
- 3A roundabout or indirect way of speaking; thus:
- 4An instance of such usage; a roundabout expression, whether an inadvisable one or a necessary one.
Recorded use
Wiktionary examplesThese source excerpts show how circumlocution appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.
Circumlocution is a large deſcription either to ſette forth a thyng more gorgiouſlie, or els to hyde it, if the eares cannot beare the open ſpeakyng: or when with fewe woordes we cannot open our meanyng, to ſpeake it more largely.
His Majeſty leaves the choice to your ſelf, and requires from you a direct Anſwer without circumlocution or bargaining with him […]
Etymology
From Latin circumlocūtiō (“the act of speaking around; circumlocution, periphrasis”). By surface analysis, circum- (“around”) + locution (“talk”), thus "getting around (a problem) in speaking or writing". Probably a calque of Ancient Greek περίφρασις (períphrasis, “periphrasis”).
Synonyms
This word in other languages
Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.