reiteration
C1Formal, Academic, Business
Definition
Meaning
the act of repeating something, typically for emphasis or clarity.
A repeated statement, action, or occurrence. In formal contexts, can imply a tedious or redundant repetition.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Carries a nuance of something being said or done again, often explicitly and deliberately, rather than a simple, incidental repetition. Can have a neutral or slightly negative connotation (suggesting redundancy).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Slight preference for 'reiteration' in formal British writing.
Connotations
Similar in both varieties. In American business contexts, might be seen as slightly more bureaucratic.
Frequency
Low-frequency formal word in both varieties, used with comparable rarity.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
reiteration of [noun phrase]reiteration that [clause]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Beat a dead horse (informal antonymic concept)”
- “Belabour the point”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in reports and meetings to refer to the restating of goals, policies, or positions. 'The CEO's reiteration of our commitment to sustainability was welcomed.'
Academic
Common in critiques and analyses to note when an argument repeats itself without adding new evidence. 'The paper suffers from a reiteration of its introductory claims.'
Everyday
Rare in casual speech. Might be used humorously or critically: 'Do we need a reiteration of the house rules every week?'
Technical
In computing, can refer to a loop or recursive process, though 'iteration' is far more common.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The minister was obliged to reiterate the government's position on the matter.
- I must reiterate that late submissions will not be marked.
American English
- The manager reiterated the safety protocols at the start of the shift.
- Let me reiterate: this project is our top priority.
adverb
British English
- He spoke reiteratively, hammering home his central thesis.
- The policy was reiteratively stated in all communiqués.
American English
- The warning was issued reiteratively throughout the storm.
- She reiteratively emphasized the need for accuracy.
adjective
British English
- The chairman's reiterative comments prolonged the meeting unnecessarily.
- His style was reiterative, circling back to the same three points.
American English
- The document was reiterative, adding little new information.
- She avoided a reiterative structure in her presentation.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- After the confusion, a reiteration of the instructions was helpful.
- The teacher's reiteration helped me understand the rule.
- The report's conclusion was merely a reiteration of its introduction, offering no new insights.
- We heard a constant reiteration of the company's core values during the training.
- The diplomat's speech constituted a firm reiteration of her nation's long-standing policy on non-interference.
- The author's argument loses force through incessant reiteration rather than progressive development.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'RE-ITERATION' as 'saying it again'. The prefix RE- means again, and 'iteration' comes from the Latin 'iterare' – to repeat.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMMUNICATION IS A CIRCULAR PATH (going over the same ground again).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid directly translating as 'повторение' in all contexts, as it can sound overly formal and bookish where a simpler word like 'restatement' or just 'repeating' would be more natural.
- Do not confuse with 'iteration' (итерация) in technical contexts, which is a single cycle, not the act of repeating itself.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'reitteration' or 'reiterration'.
- Using it in informal spoken contexts where 'saying again' would be clearer.
- Confusing it with 'reiteration' as a verb form (the verb is 'reiterate').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the use of 'reiteration' MOST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Mostly, but it specifically implies a deliberate, often formal or emphatic, act of repeating a statement or action. 'Repetition' can be more general and mechanical.
'Iteration' is one cycle or version in a series (e.g., software version 2.0 is an iteration). 'Reiteration' is the act of performing an iteration or, more commonly, the act of stating something again.
Yes, when clarity or emphasis is needed. For example, 'The reiteration of the safety rules prevented an accident.' However, it often carries a slightly negative connotation of unnecessary redundancy.
The phrase 'reiteration of' followed by a noun phrase (e.g., 'a reiteration of the rules') or a 'that' clause (e.g., 'a reiteration that the deadline was firm').