/ ˈpliːənæzəm; NAmE / noun
[ U , C ] ( technical ) the use of more words than are necessary to express a meaning. For example, 'see with your eyes' is a pleonasm because the same meaning can be expressed using 'see'.
► ple·on·as·tic / ˌpliːəˈnæstɪk; NAmE / adjective
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 16th cent.: via late Latin from Greek pleonasmos , from pleonazein be superfluous.