tautology Definition
- 1the saying of the same thing twice in different words, usually considered to be a fault of style
- 2a statement that is true by necessity or by virtue of its logical form
Using tautology: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "tautology" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The phrase 'a beginner who has just started' is an example of tautology.
Example
The phrase 'free gift' is a tautology because gifts are already free.
Example
The phrase 'I heard it with my own ears' is a tautology because hearing implies using one's ears.
Example
The phrase 'future plans' is a tautology because all plans are made for the future.
tautology Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for tautology
Antonyms for tautology
Phrases with tautology
Example
The tautology of identity is an example of a statement that is true by necessity.
a statement that is true because the consequent is contained in the antecedent, such as 'If A is true, then A or B is true'
Example
The tautology of implication is an example of a statement that is true by virtue of its logical form.
a statement that is true because the two sides of the equivalence are logically equivalent, such as 'A and B are equivalent if and only if (iff) A implies B and B implies A'
Example
The tautology of equivalence is an example of a statement that is true by virtue of its logical form.
Origins of tautology
from Greek 'tauto-', meaning 'the same', and '-logia', meaning 'saying'
Summary: tautology in Brief
The term 'tautology' [tɔːˈtɒlədʒi] refers to the repetition of the same idea in different words, often considered a stylistic fault. It can also refer to statements that are true by necessity or by virtue of their logical form, such as 'A is A.' Examples of tautology include 'free gift' and 'future plans,' while the tautology of implication and the tautology of equivalence are examples of statements that are true by virtue of their logical form.