euphemism

[ yoo-fuh-miz-uhm ]

/ ˈyu fəˌmɪz əm /

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See synonyms for: euphemism / euphemisms / euphemious / euphemistic on Thesaurus.com

noun

the substitution of a mild, indirect, or vague expression for one thought to be offensive, harsh, or blunt.

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

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Origin of euphemism

1650–60; <Greek euphēmismós the use of words of good omen, equivalent to eu-eu- + phḗm(ē) speaking, fame + -ismos-ism

OTHER WORDS FROM euphemism

eu·phe·mist, nouneu·phe·mis·tic, eu·phe·mis·ti·cal, eu·phe·mi·ous

[yoo-fee-mee-uhs], /yuˈfi mi əs/, adjectiveeu·phe·mis·ti·cal·ly, eu·phe·mi·ous·ly, adverbun·eu·phe·mis·tic, adjective

un·eu·phe·mis·ti·cal, adjectiveun·eu·phe·mis·ti·cal·ly, adverb

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH euphemism

euphemism , euphuism

Words nearby euphemism

eupatorium, eupatrid, Eupen and Malmédy, eupepsia, euphausiid, euphemism, euphemize, euphonia, euphonic, euphonious, euphonium

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use euphemism in a sentence

In 1924, a local meteorologist published a pamphlet titled “In the Zone of Filtered Sunshine” that touted the city’s “sunbreaks” — a euphemism for incessantly cloudy conditions — that helped keep summers cool and pleasant.
In America’s least air-conditioned cities, brutal heat changes some people’s minds|Marc Fisher, Carissa Wolf, Michael Hingston|July 22, 2021|Washington Post
You proposed to give us “some time,” a “pause” in our sweet courtship of almost two years, but I know well that this is the most common euphemism for not hurting the other person too much when you want to end a love relationship.
Locked up in the Land of Liberty: Part II|Michael K. Lavers|July 14, 2021|Washington Blade
People refer to its euphemism “accelerator” or “scientific internet surfing tool” otherwise.
Tencent helps Chinese students skip prohibitively low speeds for school websites overseas|Rita Liao|May 31, 2021|TechCrunch
It’s the height of brand-as-euphemism—less about aspiration than sneaking unglamorous ideas into consumers’ heads with a friendly, accessible gloss.
When Corporate Activism Has a Dark Side|Erin Berger|April 22, 2021|Outside Online

The dialogue in Made for Love is great—funny, distinctive and observant about the way tech euphemisms can invade the physical world and change the way we think.
HBO Max's Offbeat Tech Satire Made for Love Goes Down Easy—Maybe Too Easy|Judy Berman|April 1, 2021|Time
The euphemism most commonly used by convicts for dying is to “be taken off the count.”
A Million Ways to Die in Prison|Daniel Genis|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The euphemism of “collateral damage” comes with that package.
Blood and War: The Hard Truth About ‘Boots on the Ground’|Clive Irving|September 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Another week, another botched killing under the legal euphemism of capital punishment.
Why the Death Penalty Needs to Die|Nick Gillespie|July 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A commonly-used euphemism for this phenomenon is that the technology “is not yet mature.”
NTSB Doesn’t Think the Boeing 787 Dreamliner Is Safe Enough to Fly|Clive Irving|May 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Babylon could be a euphemism for Rome or it could just be a metaphor for imagined exile.
Who Really Put the Pope in Charge?|Candida Moss|April 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
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."
Railroads: Rates and Regulations|William Z. Ripley
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.
A History of Epidemics in Britain (Volume I of II)|Charles Creighton

British Dictionary definitions for euphemism

euphemism

/ (ˈjuːfɪˌmɪzəm) /

noun

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

the use of such inoffensive words or phrases

Derived forms of euphemism

euphemistic, adjectiveeuphemistically, adverb

Word Origin for euphemism

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

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.”

euphemism

Origin of euphemism

OTHER WORDS FROM euphemism

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH euphemism

Words nearby euphemism

Words related to euphemism

How to use euphemism in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for euphemism

Derived forms of euphemism

Word Origin for euphemism

Cultural definitions for euphemism