Downplay

Pronunciation

Alternative forms

• play down

Origin

- + play

Full definition of downplay

Verb

1. (transitive) To de-emphasize; to present or portray as less important or consequential.He would sometimes downplay his Princeton education by saying simply that he went to school in New Jersey.

Usage notes

The synonymous alternative form play down is slightly more formal, or slightly less informal.

Anagrams

• play down, playdown