tautologise
Definition
- Verb:
- To repeat unnecessarily: "tautologise" means to use redundant words or phrases, saying the same thing twice in different words without adding new information, especially in speech or writing.
Usage Examples
- (He engaged in unnecessary repetition.)
- (Avoid redundant phrasing.)
Advanced Usage
- "to tautologise in a definition": to define a term by using the term itself or a synonym, creating a circular explanation.
- The dictionary entry seemed to tautologise by defining "happy" as "feeling happiness." (The definition was circular and redundant.)
Variants and Related Words
- Tautology (n): a statement that is always true by logical form or an unnecessary repetition of meaning.
- "Free gift" is a tautology because a gift is always free. (A redundant expression.)
- Tautological (adj): relating to or characterized by tautology.
- His tautological reasoning added no new insight to the discussion. (His reasoning was repetitive.)
Synonyms
- Repeat: to say or do something again.
- Redund: to use more words than necessary (less common).
- Pleonasm: the use of more words than needed to convey meaning (e.g., "I saw it with my own eyes").
Related Idioms
- Say the same thing twice: a direct description of tautologising.
- He tends to say the same thing twice, which makes his lectures boring. (He tautologises.)
- Preach to the choir: to state something already known, though not strictly tautology.
- Explaining the basics to experts is like preaching to the choir. (Redundant communication.)
Phrasal Verbs
- Go on about: to talk excessively about something, often with repetition.
- She went on about her trip, tautologising the same details. (She repeated herself unnecessarily.)