tautology

[ taw-tol-uh-jee ]

noun

, plural tau·tol·o·gies.

1. needless repetition of an idea, especially in words other than those of the immediate context, without imparting additional force or clearness, as in “widow woman.”
2. an instance of such repetition.
3. Logic.
   1. a compound propositional form all of whose instances are true, as “A or not A.”
   2. an instance of such a form, as “This candidate will win or will not win.”

tautology

/ ˌtɔːtəˈlɒdʒɪkəl; tɔːˈtɒlədʒɪ /

noun

1. the use of words that merely repeat elements of the meaning already conveyed, as in the sentence Will these supplies be adequate enough? in place of Will these supplies be adequate?
2. logic a statement that is always true, esp a truth-functional expression that takes the value true for all combinations of values of its components, as in either the sun is out or the sun is not out Compare inconsistency contingency

Derived Forms

• ˌtautoˈlogically, adverb
• tautological, adjective

Other Words From

• tau·to·log·i·cal [tawt-l-, oj, -i-k, uh, l], tau·to·log·ic tau·tol·o·gous [taw-, tol, -, uh, -g, uh, s], adjective
• tau·tol·o·gist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of tautology¹

First recorded in 1570–80; from Late Latin tautologia, from Greek tautología “repetition of something already said” (a term in rhetoric); tauto-, -logy

Word History and Origins

Origin of tautology¹

C16: from Late Latin tautologia, from Greek, from tautologos

Example Sentences

On one level, this is a fairly ridiculous tautology.

From Los Angeles Times

Abraham Gutman explains that the argument that supporting Palestinian rights is anti-Semitic exists because that’s the way Israel wants it to be: “This tautology allows accusations of antisemitism to be weaponized, particularly against people who speak up about Palestinian rights — sometimes in ridiculous ways.”

From Salon

It’s such a distortion I don’t think you could even call it a tautology.

From Slate

Dr. David Reiss — a psychiatrist and expert in mental fitness evaluations who contributed to the book "The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump: 27 Psychiatrists and Mental Health Experts Assess a President" — told Salon by email that the conclusions make so much sense "they are almost a tautology."

From Salon

Tautology is to be avoided by all who make any pretence to grammar.

From Literature

Related Words

• litany
• recurrence
• reiteration
• repeat
• rhythm