Definition

The use of too many words in writing or speaking, making it longer than necessary.

Example

The essay was full of wordiness, which made it hard to understand the main point.

Conversation

I was reading your essay, and I noticed some wordiness in a few sentences.

Really? I thought I was being clear enough.

Sometimes simpler phrasing works better than long explanations, you know?

I see what you mean; I’ll try to cut down on that next time.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Wordiness → It is formed from "word" (from Old English *word*, meaning a unit of language) and "-iness" (a suffix meaning the quality of being). The term "wordiness" refers to the quality of using too many words.

Memory Tip

Think of 'word' as a unit of language and '-iness' as the quality of something. So, wordiness means having the quality of using too many words.

Visually Confused Words