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

That’s great, but do we really need so much euphemism?

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

Zhang and another CMC general, Liu Zhenli, are "suspected of serious violations of discipline and the law", the defence ministry said Saturday, using a common euphemism for corruption.

From Barron's ● Jan. 29, 2026

It is too solid and unequivocal a term to be used as a euphemism and this seems to be what we are attempting.

From "The Lives of a Cell" by Lewis Thomas

Before divorce and death brought us euphemisms like “blended family,” literature was rife with poisonous step relations.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026

Whether Gifford is throwing out ribald euphemisms or Kotb's inspirational quotes are being derailed, the show’s pure magnetism is obvious and unrivaled.

From Salon ● Jan. 10, 2025

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

One day, irritated by the mockery, Fernanda wanted to know what Amaranta was saying, and she did not use euphemisms in answering her.

From "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

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