code word

American  

noun

1. code name.

2. a euphemistic or politically acceptable catchword or phrase used instead of a blunter or less acceptable term.

   The official report said the diplomats had a “frank and serious discussion”—code words for “angry argument.”

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Etymology

Origin of code word

First recorded in 1880–85

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

code word

Failures were uncovered by the BBC in 2024 when secret filming found that in more than half of the London venues they visited, staff failed to respond to the code word.

From BBC ● Nov. 4, 2026

Dillehay held herself out as an example of a woman who failed; she said she had dated men who were “flippant,” which appears to be her code word for fun.

From Salon ● Sep. 28, 2026

Lewis suggests creating a code word, a special password shared among loved ones.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 19, 2026

If you worry you’ll forget the code word, you could store it in a password manager.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 1, 2025

“The whole point of a code word is that you don’t have to say the real thing,” I reminded him.

From "The Season of Styx Malone" by Kekla Magoon

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