Verbiage - similar to garbage?
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (362276)
Rockingham, Australia
August 30, 2025 1:26am CST
I’ve had an email from Microsoft about changes to their Services Agreement. I read the summary page and came across the word ‘verbiage’ several times. At least twice, it mentions ‘adding verbiage’ which I didn’t think sounded a good thing. Maybe my understanding of the meaning wasn’t correct as I thought it meant wordliness or verbosity for its own sake.
On researching the meaning, I came up with two definitions: firstly, ‘excessively lengthy or technical speech or writing’ and secondly, ‘the way in which something is expressed; wording or diction: US’. I guess it’s being used in the second sense.
It all sounds suspiciously too close to ‘garbage’ for my liking.
12 people like this
11 responses
@allknowing (152814)
• India
30 Aug
I have heard of the word verbose but not this and both mean the same.
2 people like this
@allknowing (152814)
• India
31 Aug
@JudyEv Verbiage is new to me. Why should I use it anyway as I have a nice word in case I want to use it 
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (482829)
• Italy
30 Aug
Verbum in Latin means "word", so I would exclude the meaning of "writing" for verbiage, that would make no sense. Verbose means using more words than needed, I wonder why they used the world verbiage that is confusing. Well, if you cannot convince them, confuse them could be their motto.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (158580)
• United States
30 Aug
Honestly, in a Service Agreement, they could be using "verbiage" to mean either one of those definitions. MOST Service Agreements use a lot of uncommon verbiage that makes them difficult for the average person to understand. I think they do that on purpose.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (158580)
• United States
30 Aug
@JudyEv Same... I think companies write that garbage just so people won't read through it.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (195393)
• United States
30 Aug
And it probably is! Great sunset pic!
1 person likes this
@luisadannointed (8530)
• Philippines
1 Sep
Heheheh all I can sense from this post is you're a bit annoyed with it. I hope it doesn't affect your day. Another week got started, enjoy.
