eu·phe·mism

(yo͞o′fə-mĭz′əm)

1. A mild, indirect, or vague term for one that is considered harsh, blunt, or offensive: "Euphemisms such as 'slumber room' ... abound in the funeral business" (Jessica Mitford).

2. The use of such terms: "Euphemism is common in hospital and medical facilities where bodily functions need to be discussed" (Diane F. Halpern).

[Greek euphēmismos, from euphēmizein, to use auspicious words, from euphēmiā, use of auspicious words : eu-, eu- + phēmē, speech; see bhā- in Indo-European roots.]

eu′phe·mist n.

eu′phe·mis′tic (-mĭs′tĭk) adj.

eu′phe·mis′ti·cal·ly adv.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Adj.

euphemistic - substituting a mild term for a harsher or distasteful one; "`peepee' is a common euphemistic term"

inoffensive

dysphemistic, offensive - substitute a harsher or distasteful term for a mild one

euphemistic

adjective polite, alternative, substitute, genteel the many euphemistic terms for death

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

Translations

تَلْطيفي

eufemistisk

beschönigend euphemistisch

eufemístico

euphémiqueeuphémiste

eufemisztikus

skrauthverfur; veigrunar-; fegrandi

forskjønnende

eufemístico

eufemistický

kibarörtmeceli

委婉的

euphemistic

[ˌjuːfɪˈmɪstɪk] ADJ → eufemístico

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

euphemistic

[ˌjuːfəˈmɪstɪk] adj → euphémique

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

euphemistic

adj → euphemistisch, verhüllend

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

euphemistic

[ˌjuːfəˈmɪstɪk] adj → eufemistico/a

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

euphemism

(ˈjuːfəmizəm) noun

a pleasant name for something that is unpleasant. `Pass on' is a euphemism for `die'.

ˌeupheˈmistic adjective

Mentioned in

References in periodicals archive

If we use vague or euphemistic terms when talking about sustainability, consumers won't grasp the urgency and scale of the challenges we face.

Should we drop the term 'biodegradable'? third party

and the hidden forces behind these cases which is often a euphemistic reference towards Pakistan's establishment.

Asif Zardari's arrest

However, a word or expression is not euphemistic or dysphemistic per se, but rather depends on the context and the speakers' intentions and, as such, "the euphemistic or dysphemistic quality of a word can never be considered as an intrinsic quality of the word regardless of context" (Crespo-Fernandez 2008, 107).

El tabu racial a traves del x-femismo en la serie televisiva Black-ish

As usual, it's always the loudest and most radical not the majority who force these bills to the legislature under the euphemistic label of women's health.

Thousands oppose abortion proposals

The Pak-China ties have often been defined in euphemistic terms, like being 'higher than the Himalayas' and 'deeper than the deepest sea'.

Does China provide a good model for naya Pakistan?

India, April 1 -- Watchman apparently is a euphemistic city-bred term often used to describe a lowly Chowkidar's job, which no skilled or literate person wants to do, but as a last resort.

Biography Of An Apolitical 'Chowkidar'

"However, there has been little long-term reduction in the amount of waste being created and a growing proportion is going to the euphemistic 'energy-from-waste'.

230k tonnes waste thrown out in 3 mths

"I misconducted myself verbally," was Djokovic's euphemistic description for his moment of anger.

Novak swears he should know better

This is so, despite Panelo's dexterity in making euphemistic spins on PRRD's vulgarities and shocking disclosures.

Divining Duterte

is euphemistic either in current use to distinguish an economically backward and ul}derdeveloped country from an economically developed and advanced one.

VOICE OF COURAGE: Selected Speeches Of Obafemi Awolowo (Vol 2)

Or read or seen an insult directed at someone.Insult is quite euphemistic here because what some people write on those sites are beyond that they border character assassination, if they aren't.

Digital Age crowd needs to be taught ethics

" In ordinary conversations, this Christmas, the word Brexit is being replaced by the euphemistic The B-word" to avoid groans of despair or a revival of long-running family feuds.

Britain in Brexit limbo with 100 days to go