PERIPHRASIS Meaning of PERIPHRASIS in English n. (pl. periphrases) 1 a roundabout way of speaking; circumlocution. 2 a roundabout phrase. [ L f. Gk f. periphrazo (as PERI-, phrazo declare) ] Concise Oxford English dictionary. Краткий оксфордский словарь английского языка. 2012