tautological
UK: ˌtɔːtəˈlɒdʒɪkəl | US: ˌtɔːtəˈlɑːdʒɪkəl
adj. 1. Involving unnecessary repetition of the same idea in different words; redundant.
adj. 2. (Logic) True by virtue of its logical form alone, without reference to meaning.
tautological = taut<same> + olog<study, word> + ical<adjective suffix>
- taut<same>: From Greek tauto (the same), combining to auto ("the same").
- olog<study, word>: From Greek -logia (study, discourse), derived from logos (word, reason).
- ical<adjective suffix>: Latin-derived suffix forming adjectives (e.g., logical, theoretical).
Etymology Origin:
The word tautological originates from Greek tautologia ("repetition of the same idea"), combining tauto (same) and -logia (speech or study). It entered English via Late Latin tautologia, reflecting a rhetorical and logical concept where redundancy or self-evident truth is emphasized. The term critiques unnecessary repetition while also denoting logical truths independent of empirical evidence.
His argument was tautological, merely restating the premise as the conclusion.
The phrase "free gift" is tautological since gifts are inherently free.
In logic, a tautological statement is always true, like "All bachelors are unmarried."
The politician's speech felt tautological, offering no new insights.
Avoid tautological expressions like "advance planning" to improve clarity.