Rephrasing

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. The act of reformulating an expression to maintain its intended meaning while using varied language
2. The process of stating something again using different words to convey the same idea
3. Presenting an original statement in alternative wording to preserve its meaning

Etymology: "Rephrasing" is the present participle and gerund of "rephrase," which is simply "re-" attached to "phrase." The base word "phrase" came into English from Old French, which took it from Latin, and it originally referred to a manner of speaking or a short group of words forming a unit of meaning. The prefix "re-" comes from Latin, where it meant "back" or "again." Put together, "rephrase" means to put something into words a second time, usually in a different way. The construction is transparent, so the word needed no special coinage: English speakers simply combined an existing prefix with an existing noun whenever they wanted to express the idea of restating.

Synonyms: rewording, restating, paraphrasing, recasting, reformulating

Antonyms: misstating, obfuscating, confusing