Plain English Meaning
Saying back what someone just told you, but in your own words, to make sure you understood them correctly.
Full Definition
An active listening technique in which the listener restates a speaker's message in their own words to confirm understanding and demonstrate attention. In instructional settings, paraphrasing is used by both instructors and students to verify that the intended meaning of a communication has been accurately received before responding.
Context Anchor
Seen in instructor-student communication, especially when an instructor checks whether a student understood an explanation, correction, or safety instruction.
Derivation
From the Greek 'paraphrasis', meaning 'a telling alongside' — 'para' (alongside) plus 'phrasis' (speech, expression). The idea is to set your own version of the message alongside the original to they match.