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.

Previous Words

Fulminate

Today's Word

Fulminate

FULL-mih-nayt

Definition

(verb) To express vehement protest or criticism; to explode violently or flash like lightning.

Example

The senator fulminated against the proposed legislation during a heated press conference.

Word Origin

Late Middle English: from Latin “fulminatus,” past participle of “fulminare” meaning “to strike with lightning,” from “fulmen” meaning “lightning.”

Fun Fact

Fulminate originally described literal lightning strikes before evolving to describe explosive anger. The chemistry connection remains strong: fulminating compounds are highly unstable explosives that detonate from the slightest disturbance. Mercury fulminate was used in blasting caps and firearm primers precisely because it explodes so violently. When someone fulminates verbally, they’re essentially detonating—their words strike with lightning speed and explosive force. The Pope can issue a fulmination, a formal denunciation accompanied by excommunication, keeping the word’s most dramatic ecclesiastical use alive.

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Tautological

Definition

Example

Previous Words

Fulminate

Fulminate

Definition

Example

Word Origin

Fulminate

Augur

Wangle

Hypnagogic

Travail