paralipsis

American  

[par-uh-lip-sis] / ˌpær əˈlɪp sɪs /

Also paraleipsis

noun

Rhetoric.

plural

paralipses

1. the suggestion, by deliberately concise treatment of a topic, that much of significance is being omitted, as in “not to mention other faults.”

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paralipsis British  

/ ˌpærəˈlɪpsɪs, ˌpærəˈlaɪpsɪs /

noun

1. a rhetorical device in which an idea is emphasized by the pretence that it is too obvious to discuss, as in there are many drawbacks to your plan, not to mention the cost

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Etymology

Origin of paralipsis

First recorded in 1580–90; from Late Latin paralīpsis, from Greek paráleipsis “an omitting,” equivalent to paraleíp(ein) “to leave on one side” (equivalent to para- + leípein “to leave”) + -sis; para- ¹, -sis

Example Sentences

The third unifying strategy is a slippery one called paralipsis, which you translate colloquially as "I'm not saying/I'm just saying."

From Salon

His retweets functioned as a paralipsis: It allowed him to say and not say and provided him with the out of plausible deniability.

From Salon

Trump has stopped using the “wink” of paralipsis since he became president.

From Salon

Dangerous demagogues use paralipsis because it gives them plausible deniability to assert that they didn't actually say some controversial thing or that they were merely joking or being sarcastic.

From Salon

For an example of candidate Trump using ad baculum threats with the wink of paralipsis, consider the case of Trump’s comments during a campaign rally in Louisville, Kentucky in March 2016.

From Salon