logorrhea

IPA/ˌlɒɡ.əˈriː.ə/
IPA/ˌlɑːɡ.əˈriː.ə/

logorrhea — noun

1. a style of speaking or writing that uses far more words than necessary, often in

1.nounC2
Definition

a style of speaking or writing that uses far more words than necessary, often in a confused or disorganised way that makes the meaning hard to follow

Example

Mert's conference speech was filled with logorrhea and repeated the same points for an hour.

logorrhea + filled with + speech

The guest columnist's logorrhea turned a simple reply into a three-thousand-word essay.

Common collocations
  • filled with logorrhea
  • logorrhea of [speech/writing/words]
  • remove logorrhea
  • sheer logorrhea
Synonyms
  • verbosity

    focuses on using too many words in writing or speech, without the 'incoherent' element

  • prolixity

    more formal; specifically describes tedious, drawn-out discourse

  • garrulity

    emphasises rambling, tiresome talk about trivial matters

Antonyms
  • brevity

    concise and economical use of words

  • laconism

    extreme brevity in speech or writing

Grammar Patterns

logorrhea + of + [speech/writing]

Usage Note

Uncountable noun — not used in the plural. Frequently modified by adjectives such as 'sheer,' 'verbal,' or 'rambling.' Typically used to criticise public speech or writing rather than casual conversation.

Common Mistakes

He has many logorrheas in his speech.
His speech is full of logorrhea.
logorrhea is uncountable and never pluralised.
She suffers from logorrhea' (for someone who is simply talkative).
She is very talkative.
logorrhea implies excessive, incoherent speech bordering on pathology; reserve it for extreme cases.

2. a medically significant form of excessive, confused speech that occurs as a symp

2.nounC2
Definition

a medically significant form of excessive, confused speech that occurs as a symptom of certain psychiatric or neurological conditions

Example

The patient's logorrhea during the manic episode made Dr. Okafor's evaluation impossible.

medical context: manic episode

The nursing staff recognised Hoa's sudden logorrhea as a sign her medication needed adjustment.

collocation: sudden logorrhea

Common collocations
  • exhibits logorrhea
  • sudden logorrhea
  • logorrhea subsided
  • symptom of logorrhea
Synonyms
  • pressure of speech

    clinical term for rapid, driven speech seen in mania

  • volubility

    formal; fluent, ceaseless speech, not necessarily pathological

Antonyms
  • mutism

    complete or near-complete absence of speech, often clinically significant

  • alogia

    clinical term for poverty of speech, common in schizophrenia

Grammar Patterns

logorrhea + is a symptom of + [condition]

patient + exhibits + logorrhea

Usage Note

Frequently used in clinical psychiatry to describe a symptom of bipolar disorder (manic phase) and certain neurological conditions. Distinguish from sense 1, which is a general criticism, by the presence of an underlying medical diagnosis or pathological context.

Common Mistakes

He is logorrhea because he talks a lot.
He exhibits logorrhea as a symptom of his condition.
logorrhea is a noun, not an adjective; the related adjective is logorrheic.

Word family

  • logorrheic
    adjectiveC2
  • logorrhoea
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Logorrhea is the most extreme term among these — it implies not just a lot of words, but excessive, incoherent speech that borders on a medical condition. 'Talkative' (B1, neutral) simply means inclined to talk freely. 'Loquacious' (C1, formal) suggests fluency and ease with words, often with a neutral or positive tone. 'Verbose' (C1, formal) specifically criticises writing or speech that uses far more words than needed. 'Garrulous' (C2) describes rambling, tiresome talk about everyday trivia. For example: 'The talkative child chatted happily about her day' vs. 'The verbose report took forty pages to say what could be said in five' vs. 'His garrulous neighbour would not let him leave' vs. 'The patient's logorrhea made a coherent interview impossible.'

verbose ↗garrulous ↗loquacious ↗talkative ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • episode of logorrhea
  • bout of logorrhea
  • symptom of logorrhea
  • case of logorrhea

Phrases

  • suffer from logorrhea
  • exhibit logorrhea
  • filled with logorrhea
  • a tendency toward logorrhea

Etymology

GreekEnglish

Logorrhea was coined in English in the early 20th century from Greek 'logos' (word, speech) and '-rrhoia' (flow, discharge), modelled on medical terms like 'diarrhoea.' It originally appeared in psychiatric literature to describe uncontrollable, rapid speech in mania, before broadening to general criticism of wordiness.