Euphemism

Pronunciation

• enPR: yooÍž'fÉ™-mÄ­z"(É™)m, IPA: /ˈjuː.fəˌmɪ.z(É™)m/

Origin

Recorded since 1656; from Ancient Greek εὐφημισμός, from εὐφημίζω, from εὔφημος (euphēmos, "uttering sound of good omen, abstaining from inauspicious words"), from εὖ (eu, "well") + φήμη (phēmē, "a voice, a prophetic voice, rumor, talk"), from φάναι (phanai, "to speak, say").

Noun

1. (uncountable) The use of a word or phrase to replace another with one that is considered less offensive, blunt or vulgar than the word or phrase it replaces.
2. (countable) A word or phrase that is used to replace another in this way.

Antonyms

• dysphemism
• expletive

Related terms

• euphemistic