euphemism
/ˈjuː.fəˌmɪz.əm/ noun
Forms euphemisms
- noun (uncountable) The use of a word or phrase to replace another one that is more offensive, blunt or vulgar.
- noun (countable) A word or phrase that replaces another in this way.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology
Recorded since 1656; from Ancient Greek εὐφημισμός (euphēmismós), from εὐφημίζω (euphēmízō), from εὔφημος (eúphēmos, “uttering sound of good omen, abstaining from inauspicious words”), from εὖ (eû, “well”) + φήμη (phḗmē, “a voice, a prophetic voice, rumor, talk”), from φημί (phēmí, “to speak, say”).
Webster’s 1913
- noun A figure in which a harts or indelicate word or expression is softened; a way of describing an offensive thing by an inoffensive expression; a mild name for something disagreeable.
Etymology [Gr. euphémisme. See Fame.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “euphemism”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details