tautology
1 of 1noun/tɔˈtɑlədʒi/
Forms:tautologies
1
the redundant repetition of an idea using different words in a sentence or phrase
C2Learn more on Wikipedia- "ATM machine" is a classic example of a tautology, as the "M" already stands for "machine."
- Many beginners in writing often make the mistake of using tautologies without realizing it.
- In linguistics, a tautology is the redundant repetition of an idea, where the same concept is expressed multiple times in different words.
- An example of tautology is the phrase "free gift," where the word "gift" inherently implies that it is free.
- Writers and speakers are often advised to avoid tautology to ensure their communication is clear and concise without unnecessary repetition.
2
a statement or proposition that is true in all possible interpretations, often due to its logical structure
- "It will either rain tomorrow or it will not" is a tautology in logic.
- The proof relied on a tautology that required no further evidence.
- In Boolean algebra, the expression
- Philosophers often use tautologies to illustrate fundamental principles of reasoning.
- The mathematician explained that a tautology cannot be falsified under any circumstances.