Tautology Definition
Tautology is where two near-synonyms are placed consecutively or very close together for effect.
TAUTOLOGY EXAMPLES:
- free gift
- in this day and age
- new innovation
- lonely isolation
Placing such words together is common enough in English and should not be regarded as an automatic error. Redundancy can have an impact, and so can tautology.
See Also:
Irony; Hyperbole; Sarcasm; Slang; Jargon; Figure of Speech; Understatement; Litotes; Rhetorical Question; Cliche; Allegory