Meaning of euphemism | Babel Free

Definitions

1. The use of a word or phrase to replace another one that is more offensive, blunt or vulgar.
   uncountable
2. An inoffensive substitute for a distasteful word or phrase.
3. A word or phrase that replaces another in this way.
   countable
4. The use or an instance of equivocal language:ambiguity, equivocation, equivoque, hedge, prevarication, shuffle, tergiversation, weasel word.
5. a pleasant name for something that is unpleasant. `Pass on' is a euphemism for `die'. eufemisme تَلْطيف الكَلام евфимизъм eufemismo eufemismus der Euphemismus eufemisme ευφημισμόςeufemismo eufemism حسن تعبیر eufemismi, kiertoilmaus euphémisme לָשוֹן נְקִייָה मंगलभाषी, कठोर शब्दों के स्थान पर मधुर शब्दों का प्रयोग eufemizam, blaži izraz za nešto negativno eufemizmus penghalus skrauthvörf; veigrunarorð; fegrunarheiti eufemismo えん曲語法 완곡 어법 eufemizmas eifēmisms perkataan berlapik eufemismeforskjø...
6. eufemisties تَلْطيفي евфиместичен eufemístico eufemistický beschönigend eufemistisk ευφημιστικός eufemístico eufemistlik وابسته به حسن تعبیر kaunisteleva euphémiqueמעודן कठोर शब्दों के स्थान पर मधुर शब्द eufemistički eufemisztikus menghaluskan skrauthverfur; veigrunar-; fegrandi eufemistico えん曲的な 완곡 어법의 eufemistinis eifēmisks lapik eufemistischforskjønnende eufemistyczny ښه تعبير eufemístico eufemistic эвфемистический eufemistický evfemističen eufemistički eufemistisk เกี่ยวกับคำนุ่มนวล örtme...
7. 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).
8. The use of such terms: "Euphemism is common in hospital and medical facilities where bodily functions need to be discussed" (Diane F. Halpern).
9. (Linguistics) 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
   sleep with
10. (Linguistics) the use of such inoffensive words or phrases
11. the substitution of a mild or indirect expression for one thought to be offensive or blunt.
12. the expression so substituted: “To pass away” is a euphemism for “to die.”

Equivalents

Examples

“Akin to it [litotes] is euphemism, which may be applied to the same purpose.”

“In 1946, George Orwell addressed the relationship of language to reality and suggested that euphemism, not imperfect analogy, was the real danger. If we don’t use shocking language to describe a shocking circumstance, can we truly recognize what is happening?”

“When it is said of the martyr St. Stephen, that “he fell asleep,” instead of—he died, the euphemism partakes of the nature of metaphor, intimating a resemblance between sleep and the death of such a person.”

“Euphemistic language turns up in many areas of American life in a variety of situations. Not all euphemisms are alike, but they have one thing in common: They obscure meaning rather than enhance it; they shade the truth.”

CEFR level