What is the definition of euphemism?

Answer 1

Euphemism

An agreeable word or expression substituted for one that is potentially offensive, often having to do with bodily functions, sex, or death; for example, rest room for toilet, lady of the evening for prostitute. The Nazis used euphemism in referring to their plan to murder the world's Jews as "The Final Solution."

So, for instance, when Mom tells Bobby that his dead hamster "went to sleep," that is her softer, gentler way of saying "your hamster is dead." That is a euphemism.

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eu·phe·mism

Pronunciation: 'yü-f&-"mi-z&m

Function: noun

Etymology: Greek euphEmismos, from euphEmosauspicious, sounding good, from eu- + phEmEspeech,

The substitution of an agreeable or inoffensive expression for one that may offend or suggest something unpleasant; also: the expression so substituted