What is the Latin word for hyperbole?

The usual Latin words for “hyperbole” are hyperbolē, sŭperlātĭo. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“hyperbole” in Latin

hyperbolēexaggeration, hyperbole sŭperlātĭoan exaggerating

The English word hyperbole itself goes back to Latin hyperbolē.

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

hyperbole

hyperbole or hyperbola (ὑπερβολὴ in Greek characters in Cic.; in Latin characters in Quintilian, who explains it by decens veri superjectio): augendi minuendive causa veritatis superlatio et trajectio, or superlatio only (Cic., De Or., 3, 53, 203; ☞ Auct., ad Herenn., 4, 33, in., where it is defined; superlatio est oratio superans veritatem alicujus augendi minuendive causa). To use a hyperbole, aliquid dicere, quod fieri nullo modo possit, augendae rei gratia aut minuendae (Cic., Top., 10, extr.). Vid: EXAGGERATION.

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for hyperbole?: The usual Latin words for “hyperbole” are hyperbolē, sŭperlātĭo. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.