verbiage

[ vur-bee-ij ]

noun

1. overabundance or superfluity of words, as in writing or speech; wordiness; verbosity.
2. manner or style of expressing something in words; wording:

   a manual of official verbiage.

verbiage

/ ˈvɜːbɪɪdʒ /

noun

1. the excessive and often meaningless use of words; verbosity
2. rare.
   diction; wording

Word History and Origins

Origin of verbiage¹

First recorded in 1715–25; from French, from Middle French verbi(er) “to gabble” (also guerbloier, verboier, werbler, with a change in spelling by association with verbe “word,” from Germanic; verb, warble ¹( def ) ) + -age -age

Word History and Origins

Origin of verbiage¹

C18: from French, from Old French verbier to chatter, from verbe word, from Latin verbum

Example Sentences

“If you had that document with that exact verbiage issued by a CEO of a publicly traded company, they would be charged with fraud in two seconds. That is insider trading.”

From BBC

It's very mindful and very demure, one might say using TikTok verbiage.

From Salon

“I don’t think the verbiage is necessarily a part of the issue,” Bieniemy said.

From Los Angeles Times

We have also watched millions of cult followers sticking by him despite or perhaps more sickeningly because of his malignant verbiage and his desire to end our form of government.

From Salon

During the GOP candidate debates, Haley has tried to dodge questions about her abortion policies, or at least shroud them in a miasma of verbiage.

From Los Angeles Times