"Periphrasis" Pronounce,Meaning And Examples

"Periphrasis" Meaning

Periphrasis is a figure of speech that involves circumlocution, where a phrase or sentence is used to describe an object, concept, or idea, rather than naming it directly. It often involves using multiple words or phrases to convey the intended meaning, while avoiding direct reference to the thing being described. In other words, periphrasis is a way of saying something without actually saying it, often used for artistic or rhetorical purposes.

"Periphrasis" Examples

5 Usage Examples of Periphrasis

The King of England is the periphrasis used to refer to Queen Elizabeth II in a formal or official context, instead of addressing her directly as "Your Majesty".
It's often considered more polite to use periphrases like "How are you?" instead of "What's wrong?" when asking someone about their well-being.
In formal or literary writing, the periphrasis "in order to" is often used instead of "in order [verb]" to express purpose, e.g., "She walked to the store in order to buy some milk".
The phrase "it is said that" is a common periphrasis used to indicate that a statement is not the speaker's direct assertion, but rather something that is rumored or reported.
Instead of saying "very intelligent", one might use a periphrasis like "possessed of high intellectual abilities" or "remarkably bright" to describe someone's cognitive abilities in a more formal or evocative way.