tau·tol·o·gy (tô-t l  -j )n. pl. tau·tol·o·gies 1. a. Needless repetition of the same sense in different words; redundancy. b. An instance of such repetition. 2. Logic An empty or vacuous statement composed of simpler statements in a fashion that makes it logically true whether the simpler statements are factually true or false; for example, the statement Either it will rain tomorrow or it will not rain tomorrow. [Late Latin tautologia, from Greek tautologi  , from tautologos, redundant : tauto-, tauto- + logos, saying; see -logy.]tau  to·logi·cal (tôtl-j -kl), tauto·logic (-k) adj.tau to·logi·cal·ly adv. |
tautology [tɔːˈtɒlədʒɪ]
n pl -gies
1. (Linguistics / Grammar) 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. (Philosophy / Logic) 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 [3] contingency [5]
[from Late Latin tautologia, from Greek, from tautologos]
tautological [ˌtɔːtəˈlɒdʒɪkəl], tautologic, tautologous adj
tautologically , tautologously adv
tautology
needless repetition of a concept in word or phrase; redundancy or pleonasm. Also tautologism. — tautologist, n. — tautological, tautologous, adj.
See also: Language
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. | tautology - (logic) a statement that is necessarily true; "the statement `he is brave or he is not brave' is a tautology" logic - the branch of philosophy that analyzes inference true statement, truth - a true statement; "he told the truth"; "he thought of answering with the truth but he knew they wouldn't believe it" |
| 2. | tautology - useless repetition; "to say that something is `adequate enough' is a tautology" repetitiousness, repetitiveness - verboseness resulting from excessive repetitions |
tautology
noun repetition, redundancy, verbiage, iteration, verbosity, repetitiveness, prolixity, repetitiousness, pleonasm The tautology and circularity of this argument were swept aside.
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