Prolix
/ˈproʊlɪks/
adjectiveC1
Definition
Prolix describes speech or writing that is very long and uses more words than needed. It often makes the message hard to understand or boring because it has too many details or repeats ideas.
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See It in Action
Using too many words in speaking or writing, making it boring or hard to follow
- •His prolix explanation made the meeting last for hours.
- •The book was so prolix that many readers stopped reading after a few pages.
- •She gave a prolix speech that lost the audience’s attention.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "prolix" like "long," but not just long in size—it is long in a way that feels slow or boring, like a story that never ends.
- ✓Picture a person telling a story that takes a very long time, with many extra details that do not help the main point.
- ✓It's the feeling when you listen to someone talk and you want them to finish soon because they keep adding too much information.
- ✓Sounds like "PRO-lix" → imagine a PROfessor lecturing for a very long time, making the class sleepy.
- ✓Think of a long, slow river that never ends—prolix speech flows on and on without stopping.
- ✓NOT like "long" (which can be good or neutral), prolix has a negative meaning because it feels too long and boring.
- ✓NOT like "clear" or "short," which are easier to understand and more interesting.
Try Other Words
- •Verbose: using more words than needed (Use when you want to say someone uses too many words but in a neutral or slightly negative way)
- •Wordy: full of unnecessary words (Use when speaking informally about writing or talking)
- •Long-winded: speaking or writing for too long (Use when describing someone who talks too much and is boring)
- •Rambling: talking or writing in a confused or unorganized way (Use when the long speech is also not clear or jumps between ideas)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "pro-" (forward, before) + "lix" (from Latin "loqui" meaning to speak) → related to speaking forward or at length
- •Etymology: From Latin "prolixus," meaning stretched out or extended in speech or writing
- •Historical development: Used since the 1500s to describe speech or writing that is too long or extended
- •Modern usage: Used mostly in formal or literary contexts to describe writing or speaking that is too long and boring
Reflect & Connect
•Can being prolix ever be a good thing, for example, in storytelling or teaching? Why or why not?
•How do you feel when someone is prolix in conversation? Do you try to stop them or listen carefully?
Fill in the blanks
1.The professor’s prolix lecture made it difficult for students to ___ the main ideas clearly.
2.When writing an essay, avoid being prolix by ___ unnecessary details.
3.A prolix speech often causes the audience to feel ___ or lose interest.
4.Unlike clear and short talks, prolix explanations ___ with many extra words.
5.She tried to be concise, but her natural style tends to be ___.
6.People usually prefer speakers who are direct and ___, not prolix.
7.You can recognize prolix writing when the sentences are very long and ___ repeated points.