Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

pleonasm

Noun

/ˌplɪəˈnæzəm/

Definition

The use of more words than necessary to convey meaning, often resulting in redundancy.

Examples

“Free gift” is an example of pleonasm, as gifts are inherently free.
“ATM machine” is another common pleonasm, since ATM stands for Automated Teller Machine.

Meaning

Pleonasm refers to a phrase that contains an unnecessary repetition of ideas or words that do not add to the meaning, making the expression overly verbose.