euphemism

American  

[yoo-fuh-miz-uhm] / ˈju fəˌmɪz əm /

noun

• euphemisms
  plural

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.”

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euphemism British  

/ 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

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euphemism Cultural  

1. 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.”

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• euphemist
  noun
• euphemious
  adjective
• euphemistic
  adjective
• euphemistical
  adjective
• uneuphemistic
  adjective
• uneuphemistical
  adjective
• euphemiously
  adverb
• euphemistically
  adverb
• uneuphemistically
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• euphemisms
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of euphemism

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

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Explanation

Pardon me, but when a polite term is substituted for a blunt, offensive one, you should call it a euphemism. Euphemism is from Greek euphemismos, meaning "good speech," and it's a way that we paper over uncomfortable things with more pleasant-sounding words. These days we tend to use euphemisms when talking about anything having to do with elimination of bodily waste: toilet, bathroom, and water closet were all originally euphemisms. The military is also notorious for using euphemisms, like saying "neutralizing the target" instead of "killing someone."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

euphemism euphemisms

Musk justified the "rapid unscheduled disassembly" of these rockets, to use the entrepreneur's favorite euphemism for explosions, by saying they were part of the learning process.

From Barron's ● Jun. 12, 2026

It is interesting how this euphemism in particular has gained such widespread use, though of course the practice of wordplay is really anything but new.

From Salon ● May 8, 2026

Just so you know, I’m not one for euphemism.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 13, 2026

He was accused of "serious violations of discipline and law" - typically a euphemism for corruption.

From BBC ● Feb. 11, 2026

Finally, horses could break down, racing’s euphemism for incurring leg injuries.

From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand

He was resented for puncturing euphemisms of communal self-regard.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2025

Rather than call out the dangerous lunacy in plain view, the Times has chosen to engage in tortured euphemisms.

From Salon ● Oct. 20, 2024

They use euphemisms online to communicate the things they are not supposed to mention.

From New York Times ● Jun. 4, 2024

What first clued me in to the remarkable frequency with which complaints about men’s cleanliness appear on Reddit was repeatedly encountering one of the most awfully evocative euphemisms in the English language: skid mark.

From Slate ● May 17, 2024

But Titi Generosa wasn’t inclined toward elegant speech, nor toward euphemisms.

From "When I Was Puerto Rican" by Esmeralda Santiago

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