- Today's Word
Tautological
taw-tuh-LODGE-ih-kul
Definition
(adjective) Needlessly repetitive; expressing something using different words that add no new meaning.
Example
Saying “free gift” is tautological—gifts are already free.
Fun Fact
While it sounds academic, tautological shows up all over everyday conversation—and advertising. “Added bonus,” “final conclusion,” “completely unanimous”—all examples of tautologies, or statements that repeat themselves. In formal logic, a tautology is always true (like “it will rain or it won’t”), but in writing and speech, it’s often just a filler phrase that adds no substance. Editors, professors, and debate judges hate it because it pretends to sound smart while saying absolutely nothing new.
(adjective) Sharply sarcastic or cutting in a way that is meant to wound; also, capable of burning or corroding organic tissue through chemical action
Her caustic remarks during the meeting left everyone uncomfortable and the presenter visibly shaken.
Caustic comes from the Latin causticus, derived from the Greek kaustikos — from kaiein, meaning “to burn.” It entered English in the late 14th century first in its literal chemical sense, describing substances that burn or corrode on contact, before its meaning extended to describe the burning quality of sharp, cutting speech.