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

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

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

It has never really been used as a euphemism for murder.

From Salon ● May 8, 2026

And fundament is an old euphemism for “buttocks.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 7, 2026

Like others interviewed, Gudiño declined to offer any political views, especially “after what happened” — the common euphemism for the U.S. attack.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 30, 2026

However in China the accusation of wrongdoing is usually a euphemism for corruption.

From BBC ● Jan. 24, 2026

As unsettling to me as the photos’ purpose was the fact that they weren’t called something else—say, employee contingency portraits, or some other euphemism.

From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover

And on past occasions, companies have been called to task for using euphemisms or vague language.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026

“In the coming days, network leadership may attempt to hide behind corporate euphemisms like ‘modernization’ and ‘restructuring’ to explain away my departure,” Alfonsi said.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 27, 2026

And it could shift the national conversation from euphemisms and proxies to the real question: What do we owe the descendants of those who built this country?

From Slate ● Oct. 7, 2025

Social media generally breeds this problem of people getting so enmeshed in their subcultures that they forget that most people don't share their jargon or euphemisms.

From Salon ● Oct. 1, 2024

Our linguistic ancestors parlayed that incomprehension into euphemisms like passed on in which death consists of a journey to a remote location.

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker