What does verbosity mean?
Word: Verbosity
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Verbosity means the habit of using more words than are needed; wordiness.
Synonyms: wordiness, long-windedness, verbiage, prolixity
Antonyms: conciseness, terseness
Word origin: Comes from Late Latin verbositas, from Latin verbosus, 'wordy', from verbum, 'word'.
How do you spell verbosity?
Syllables: ver - bos - i - ty
Tricky part: The s in the middle stays single, as it is in verbose; students double it or swap in a c.
Watch out for: verbossity, verbocity
Memory tip: Think of verbose, with just one s: the noun keeps that single s.
Verbosity in a sentence
Example 1: The guest of honour's verbosity made the prize-giving run an hour late.
Example 2: His verbosity on the phone drives his sister mad.
Example 3: Good writers avoid verbosity and choose each word with care.
Fun Fact
Latin verbum also gives verbatim, meaning word for word, used when a speech is reported exactly as it was spoken.
Practise the CREST Way
Spellacadabra
Choose the misspelt word:
a) curiosity
b) porosity
c) verbosety
d) generosity
Show answer
c) verbosety. Verbosity ends in -ity, with an i before the t, like the three correct words.
Jumble Tumble
Choose the correct sequence of the jumbled letters to form a meaningful word:
123456789 YBTROVESI
a) 764258931
b) 136985247
c) 674258931
d) 674852931
Show answer
c) 674258931. Read the letters in the order 6-7-4-2-5-8-9-3-1 and verbosity appears.
Word Champ
Choose the correct word for the blank:
A speaker who takes ten minutes to say what could be said in one is guilty of ____.
a) velocity
b) ferocity
c) verbosity
d) vivacity
Show answer
c) verbosity. Velocity is speed, ferocity is fierceness and vivacity is liveliness.
Word Puzzle
Match the words with the correct options:
1. verbosity 2. clarity 3. scarcity a. confusion b. brevity c. abundance
a) 1-c, 2-a, 3-b
b) 1-b, 2-c, 3-a
c) 1-b, 2-a, 3-c
d) 1-a, 2-c, 3-b
Show answer
c) 1-b, 2-a, 3-c. Each word faces its opposite: wordiness against brevity, clearness against confusion and shortage against abundance.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A speaker known for verbosity is most likely to ____.
a) speak in short, clear sentences
b) speak only in whispers
c) refuse to speak at all
d) talk for far too long
Show answer
d) talk for far too long
2. Which piece of advice helps a writer avoid verbosity?
a) Begin with a long introduction.
b) Use the longest words you know.
c) Say it in as few words as you can.
d) Repeat each point at least twice.
Show answer
c) Say it in as few words as you can.
