# euphemism

Pronunciation: say "YOO-fuh-miz-um" /ˈjuː.fəˌmɪz.əm/

## Noun

1. A word or phrase used in place of another that is more offensive, blunt, or vulgar.
   - Simple: A softer word or phrase used in place of a rude or harsh one.
   - _The company called the layoffs a "workforce adjustment," a euphemism that fooled no one._
   - _The briefing was full of euphemisms, with "collateral damage" standing in for civilian deaths._
2. The practice of replacing a word or phrase with another that is less offensive, blunt, or vulgar.
   - Simple: The habit of using a softer word or phrase instead of a rude or harsh one.
   - _Official reports on the war relied so heavily on euphemism that the casualties barely sounded real._
   - _Some doctors avoid euphemism and tell patients plainly that they are dying._

## Origin

Recorded since 1656; from Ancient Greek εὐφημισμός (euphēmismós), from εὐφημίζω (euphēmízō), from εὔφημος (eúphēmos, "uttering sound of good omen, abstaining from inauspicious words"), from εὖ (eû, "well") + φήμη (phḗmē, "a voice, a prophetic voice, rumor, talk"), from φημί (phēmí, "to speak, say").

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/euphemism (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).