circumlocution
noun
Meaning
The use of many words where fewer would do, often in a deliberate attempt to be vague or evasive.
Examples
- The politician's answer was nothing but a series of circumlocutions designed to avoid a direct 'yes' or 'no'.
- Legal documents are often criticized for their reliance on unnecessary circumlocution.
Synonyms: wordiness, verbosity, periphrasis, beating around the bush