euphemism

CEFRC2

/ˈjuː.fəˌmɪz.əm/

noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    A polite word used instead of a more direct one.

  2. 02

    noun

    Extra detail

    A word or phrase that replaces another in this way.

Examples

  • "Collateral damage" is a euphemism for killing innocent people to protect capital.

  • The term sanitation worker is a euphemism for a garbage man.

At a glance

Sits at C2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
3
Parts of speech
1
Citations
4
Synonyms
3

Also pronounced

  • /ˌjyːˈfɛmizm̩/

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meaning

  1. The use of a word or phrase to replace another one that is more offensive, blunt or vulgar.

More examples

In context

  • Is that a euphemism for something?

  • Akin to it [litotes] is euphemism, which may be applied to the same purpose.

  • When it is said of the martyr St. Stephen, that “he fell asleep,” instead of—he died, the euphemism partakes of the nature of metaphor, intimating a resemblance between sleep and the death of such a person.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

When they called it 'downsizing,' that was a blank for firing many workers.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

noun

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”).