euphemism

[ yoo-fuh-miz-uhm ]
See synonyms for euphemism on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. the substitution of a mild, indirect, or vague expression for one thought to be offensive, harsh, or blunt.

  2. the expression so substituted: “To pass away” is a euphemism for “to die.”

Origin of euphemism

1
First recorded in 1650–60; from Greek euphēmismós “use of words of good omen,” from eu- eu- + phḗm(ē) “speaking, fame” + -ismos -ism

Other words from euphemism

  • eu·phe·mist, noun
  • eu·phe·mis·tic, eu·phe·mis·ti·cal, eu·phe·mi·ous [yoo-fee-mee-uhs], /yuˈfi mi əs/, adjective
  • eu·phe·mis·ti·cal·ly, eu·phe·mi·ous·ly, adverb
  • un·eu·phe·mis·tic, adjective
  • un·eu·phe·mis·ti·cal, adjective
  • un·eu·phe·mis·ti·cal·ly, adverb

Words that may be confused with euphemism

Words Nearby euphemism

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use euphemism in a sentence

  • As there are many Corsican policemen on the Continent they use this euphemism to designate the ignoble calling they follow.

    The Nabob | Alphonse Daudet
  • He reported having received information that Rosecrans was being reënforced, but in this again he may be suspected of a euphemism.

    Stone's River | Wilson J. Vance
  • For market competition (as already quoted) "is a euphemism for railroad policy."

  • She used terms regarding cathedrals and pictures for which boredom is the mildly polite euphemism.

    The Mountebank | William J. Locke
  • The suggestion of smallpox appears to be the same euphemism which was resorted to in the cases of other exalted personages.

British Dictionary definitions for euphemism

euphemism

/ (ˈjuːfɪˌmɪzəm) /


noun
  1. an inoffensive word or phrase substituted for one considered offensive or hurtful, esp one concerned with religion, sex, death, or excreta. Examples of euphemisms are sleep with for have sexual intercourse with; departed for dead; relieve oneself for urinate

  2. the use of such inoffensive words or phrases

Origin of euphemism

1
C17: from Greek euphēmismos, from eu- + phēmē speech

Derived forms of euphemism

  • euphemistic, adjective
  • euphemistically, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Cultural definitions for euphemism

euphemism

[ (yooh-fuh-miz-uhm) ]


An agreeable word or expression substituted for one that is potentially offensive, often having to do with bodily functions, sex, or death; for example, rest room for toilet, lady of the evening for prostitute. The Nazis used euphemism in referring to their plan to murder the world's Jews (see also Jews) as “the Final Solution.”

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.