an indirect way of expressing something an indirect expression
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
cir•cum•lo•cu•tion /ˌsɜrkəmloʊˈkyuʃən/USA pronunciation
n.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- a roundabout or indirect way of speaking: [countable]a long-winded circumlocution to the effect that I was fired.[uncountable]Enough circumlocution; just get to the point.
cir•cum•lo•cu•tion
(sûr′kəm lō kyo̅o̅′shən),USA pronunciation n.
cir•cum•loc•u•to•ry
(sûr′kəm lok′yə tôr′ē, -tōr′ē),USA pronunciation cir′cum•lo•cu′tion•al, cir′cum•lo•cu′tion•ar′y, adj.
- a roundabout or indirect way of speaking; the use of more words than necessary to express an idea.
- a roundabout expression.
- Latin circumlocūtiōn- (stem of circumlocūtiō). See circum-, locution
- late Middle English 1375–1425
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged rambling, meandering, verbosity, prolixity.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'circumlocution' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):