verbalism C2+ Topic:Abstract Ideas US /ˈvɜrbəlɪzəm/ UK /ˈvɜːbəlɪzəm/ See IPA manual Meanings 1 noun emphasis on words rather than meaning; an empty verbal expression The essay collapsed into hollow verbalism with no real argument. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 noun · emphasis on words rather... wordinessverbosityplatitude Word family Related forms verbalverbalizeverbiageverbose Etymology AI details From 'verbal' + '-ism'. 'Verbal' derives from Latin 'verbalis' ('consisting of words'), from 'verbum' ('word'). verbalis Latin verbum Latin View etymology graph -> Topics Abstract Ideas Word Formation & Derivatives External links Google Images Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary # verbalism **Type:** Word **Level:** C2+ **Part of speech:** noun **IPA (US):** /ˈvɜrbəlɪzəm/ **IPA (UK):** /ˈvɜːbəlɪzəm/ ## Meanings 1. emphasis on words rather than meaning; an empty verbal expression ## Examples - The essay collapsed into hollow verbalism with no real argument. ## Synonyms - wordiness - verbosity - platitude ## Related Forms - verbal - verbalize - verbiage - verbose ## Roots and Affixes - Root: verbalis - Root: verbum ## Etymology From 'verbal' + '-ism'. 'Verbal' derives from Latin 'verbalis' ('consisting of words'), from 'verbum' ('word'). ## AI Etymology Verbalism comes from 'verbal' + '-ism'. 'Verbal' derives from Latin 'verbalis' ('consisting of words'), from 'verbum' ('word'). In current use it is a noun meaning "emphasis on words rather than meaning; an empty verbal expression". That sense is explained by the older material without requiring a speculative semantic step: the inherited or borrowed base supplies the field of meaning, while the English formation fixes its modern role. The surface form is compositional: its joined elements remain visible in the modern word. The historical chain includes Latin verbalis and Latin verbum. Related English forms include verbal, verbalize, verbiage, and verbose. The word's history is thus visible in its construction: the components remain interpretable even after the whole expression has settled into a conventional English meaning. ## Topics - Abstract Ideas - Word Formation & Derivatives markdown