pleonasm

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. The use of more words than are required to express an idea; redundancy.
2. n. An instance of pleonasm.
3. n. A superfluous word or phrase.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. Redundancy of language; the use of more words than are necessary to express an idea. Pleonasm may be justifiable when the intention is to present thoughts with particular perspicuity or force.
2. n. A redundant phrase or expression; an instance of redundancy of language.
3. n. In medicine, excess in number or size. Synonyms Pleonasm, Verbosity, Tautology, Circumlocution, Periphrasis, Verbiage, Redundancy. By pleonasm is meant the employment of more words than usual, or of redundant words. When properly employed, it is productive of a high degree of emphasis…. By Verbosity is meant an excessive use of words; it arises from a natural gift of fluent expression, which has not been sufficiently chastened and corrected. … Tautology arises from verbosity, and may be defined as the repetition of the same idea in different words…. Circumlocution is another characteristic of verbosity; it means a roundabout mode of speech, where, instead of a direct statement of meaning, the words are multiplied to an unnecessary extent. When properly employed, this is a recognized figure of speech, periphrasis…. Periphrasis is also known as circumlocution, but the term periphrasis generally refers to those cases where the figure is used with effect, while circumlocution refers to its faulty use. Periphrasis may be defined as naming a thing indirectly by means of some well-known attribute, or characteristic, or attendant circumstance.” J De Mille, Rhetoric, §§ 27, 28, 29, 132, 218. Verbiage and verbosity are contemptuous words, verbiage being more often applied to the things said or written that are verbose : as, his speech was mere verbiage. Pleonasm and periphrasis are terms of rhetoric, with some general use; the others are in common use. Redundancy expresses without contempt the fact that more words are used than are necessary.

Wiktionary

1. n. uncountable, rhetoric Redundancy in wording.
2. n. countable A phrase involving pleonasm, that is, a phrase in which one or more words are redundant as their meaning is expressed elsewhere in the phrase.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. (Rhet.) Redundancy of language in speaking or writing; the use of more words than are necessary to express the idea.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. using more words than necessary