Tautological (Adjective)
Meaning
Repetition of same sense in different words; "`a true fact' and `a free gift' are pleonastic expressions"; "the phrase `a beginner who has just started' is tautological"; "at the risk of being redundant I return to my original proposition"- J.B.Conant.
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Examples
- The phrase "free of charge" is tautological and could simply be stated as "free".
- To say that an "endless" love will "last forever" is a tautological expression.
- The phrase "final outcome" is tautological since the word "outcome" already implies a conclusion.
- The statement "a new innovation" is tautological because innovation is by definition something new.
- The phrase "PIN number" is often considered tautological since "PIN" already stands for "Personal Identification Number".