EUPHEMISM

Euphemism

A euphemism is a generally innocuous word or expression used in place of one that may be found offensive or suggest something unpleasant. Some euphemisms are intended to amuse, while others use bland, inoffensive, and often misleading terms for things the user wishes to dissimulate or downplay. Euphemisms are used for dissimulation, to refer to taboo topics in a polite way, and to mask profanity. The opposite of euphemism roughly equates to dysphemism.

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euphemism

Noun

  1. 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. A word or phrase that is used to replace another in this way.


The above text is a snippet from Wiktionary: euphemism
and as such is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

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