What Is Verbiage? | Definition, Meaning & Examples
Verbiage is a noun referring to excessive or technical use of words. It usually has a negative connotation.
It’s also used in a more neutral sense to refer generally to the manner or style of written or spoken words. This usage is more common in US English than UK English.
The verbiage of the book hid the fact that it was not very original.
I couldn’t understand the contract because it was full of technical verbiage.
Verbiage vs. verbage
“Verbage” is sometimes used to mean something similar to verbiage, but “verbage” is generally not regarded as a real word by dictionaries, and it’s best to avoid it.
- Recipe blogs should be concise and not full of verbage.
- Recipe blogs should be concise and not full of verbiage.
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If you want to know more about commonly confused words, definitions, and differences between US and UK spellings, make sure to check out some of our other language articles with explanations, examples, and quizzes.
Confused words
Definitions
US vs. UK spellings
Frequently asked questions
- What is a synonym of “verbiage”?
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There are numerous synonyms for the two meanings of verbiage.
Excessive use of language Manner/style of language Circumlocution Diction Diffuseness Language Long-windedness Phrasing Redundancy Style Verboseness Syntax Verbosity Turn of phrase Windiness Wording Wordage Wordiness - How do I pronounce “verbiage”?
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Verbiage has three syllables. It’s pronounced with emphasis on the first syllable: [ver-bee-ij].
Sources in this article
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This Scribbr articleRyan, E. (September 5, 2022). What Is Verbiage? | Definition, Meaning & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved October 17, 2022, from https://www.scribbr.com/definitions/verbiage/
