Uses of "reiterate"

Question

Reader Kap asked whether a person can “reiterate” what someone else said, as opposed to something they themselves said.

Answer

Good question! The short answer is yes, but how can you tell?

It is hard to answer this question based on dictionaries alone, because the information they provide varies a bit on this question. According to Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary, which provides simple and clear definitions for non-native speakers, reiterate means “to repeat something you have already said in order to emphasize it.” This suggests that the word is used to describe someone who is repeating their own statement or view.

In Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, however, the definition of reiterate is “to state or do over again or repeatedly, sometimes with wearying effect.” This definition is neutral in terms of whether or not someone can reiterate a remark or point of view expressed by someone else.

But looking at examples of actual usage, it is clear that reiterate is used in this way, in both spoken and written language. Here are some examples found in the onlne Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA) that illustrate this usage:

Spoken

1. Well, I would just reiterate what everybody has said....
2. But just to reiterate what the governor said....

Written

1. Justice Ginsburg's opinion for the Court took pains to reiterate established doctrine....
2. In unison, Polish critics reiterate her opinions.

In all of the above examples, reiterate is applied to speakers/writers who are repeating someone else's remarks or point of view.

I hope this helps.