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Definition of paraphrase

paraphrase

/ˈpær.ə.freɪz/
par · a · phrase
Adverb:paraphrastically
•
Plural:paraphrases
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Adjective:paraphrastic
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Past Simple:paraphrased
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Past Participle:paraphrased
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Present Participle:paraphrasing
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paraphrase Lexical Profile

paraphrase Game Scores & Validity

• verb

1

To express the meaning of a speaker or writer using different words, especially to achieve greater clarity.

Example

"Rather than quoting the lengthy report verbatim, the journalist chose to paraphrase its main conclusions."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• noun

1

A restatement of a text, passage, or work giving the meaning in another form, typically for greater clarity.

Example

"The professor asked the students to write a clear paraphrase of the complex philosophical stanza."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Nearby Words

paraphernalia
paraphilic
paraphrasable
paraphrase
paraphraser
paraplegia
paraplegic

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the mid-16th century via Middle French and Latin from Ancient Greek 'paraphrasis', from 'paraphrazein' ('to tell in other words'), combining 'para-' ('beside') and 'phrazein' ('to point out, declare, or tell').

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Paraphrase. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/paraphrase
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