verbosity
C1Formal
Definition
Meaning
The use of more words than necessary; wordiness.
Excessive length and detail in speech or writing, often making communication less clear and efficient. Can also imply a stylistic flaw or a deliberate tactic to obscure meaning.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a pejorative or critical term, though can be used neutrally in linguistic or stylistic analysis. Contrasts with conciseness, brevity, and clarity.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning or usage.
Connotations
Slightly more common in formal British criticism (e.g., of bureaucratic language). In American usage, often associated with legal, technical, or corporate jargon.
Frequency
Similar frequency in both varieties within formal/educated contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[subject] + be + characterised by + verbosityThe + verbosity + of + [noun phrase]to + avoid/reduce/cut + verbosityVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Not commonly used in idioms. The concept is expressed directly.]”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Criticised in reports and emails; 'We need to cut the verbosity from the proposal to make it client-friendly.'
Academic
A common critique of student writing or dense theoretical prose; 'The argument is lost in unnecessary verbosity.'
Everyday
Used humorously or critically about someone talking too much; 'Sorry for the verbosity, I just have a lot to say.'
Technical
In computing, refers to code or log files that are excessively long or detailed.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- [No direct verb form. Use 'to be verbose']
American English
- [No direct verb form. Use 'to be verbose']
adverb
British English
- He spoke verbosely about a very minor point.
- The document was verbosely drafted.
American English
- The manual explains the process verbosely and unclearly.
- She answered verbosely, adding irrelevant details.
adjective
British English
- His verbose explanation left everyone more confused.
- The report was criticised for its verbose style.
American English
- The contract's verbose language required a lawyer to decipher.
- She gave a verbose apology that lasted ten minutes.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- [A2 level too low for this word. Use placeholder.]
- The teacher said my essay had too much verbosity.
- I don't like his verbosity; he talks for hours.
- Legal documents are often filled with unnecessary verbosity.
- The manager's verbosity in meetings makes them run overtime.
- The author's penchant for verbosity sometimes obscures her otherwise brilliant insights.
- A key skill in editing is the ruthless elimination of verbosity without losing meaning.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'VERB' is at the heart of 'verbosity'. Too many VERBs and words lead to verbose-ity.
Conceptual Metaphor
LANGUAGE IS A SUBSTANCE (excessive quantity); WORDS ARE WASTE/CLUTTER.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation to 'многословие' in all contexts, as the Russian term can be less formally critical. 'Verbosity' is almost always a negative evaluation.
- Do not confuse with 'красноречие' (eloquence), which is positive. Verbosity is the negative counterpart.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'verbosity' (wrong) instead of 'verbosity' (correct).
- Using it as a positive trait (e.g., 'His verbosity was impressive.').
- Confusing it with 'vocabulary' (range of words).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'verbosity' MOST likely to be considered a positive trait?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Almost always. It is a criticism of ineffective communication. Rarely, in literary or rhetorical analysis, it might be described neutrally as a stylistic feature.
Verbosity is about excessive wordiness in general. Redundancy is a specific type of verbosity where the same idea is needlessly repeated.
Yes, it applies to both modes of communication equally.
'Conciseness' or 'brevity' are the most direct and common antonyms.