VERBALISM Definition & Meaning

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verbalism

[ vur-buh-liz-uhm ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a verbal expression, as a word or phrase.
the way in which something is worded; choice of words; phrasing.
a phrase or sentence having little or no meaning.
a use of words considered as predominating over or obscuring ideas or reality; verbiage.

verbalism

/ ˈ��ɜː��əˌ��ɪ��ə�� /

noun

a verbal expression; phrase or word
an exaggerated emphasis on the importance of words by the uncritical acceptance of assertions in place of explanations, the use of rhetorical style, etc
a statement lacking real content, esp a cliché

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of verbalism¹

First recorded in 1780–90; verbal + -ism

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The excess of verbalism, indeed, gives the play a sugary and monotonous effect, and its poetry loses connection with character or situation.

From

There is a certain affinity, apparently at least, between that formal vice of verbalism and another defect of the mind, whose origins may, however, be varied.

From

One of the catchwords of the day was to insist on a knowledge of things instead of a knowledge of words, on “realism” instead of “verbalism.”

From

Metaphysics used words and conceptions of multi-dimensional meanings which of necessity resulted in hopeless confusion, in “a talking” about words, in mere verbalism.

From

We may surround the subject with a vague and attractive idealistic verbalism, but we come back to this as a starting point.

From

verbal irony verbalist

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