Writing 101
â 5 min read
Euphemism: definition and examples

In the movie, Crazy Rich Asians, the lead character â a Chinese American economics professor, Rachel Chu, asks her boyfriend, Nick Young, about his familyâs status. Instead of revealing his super rich status, which would overwhelm his girlfriend, Nick responds:
 âWeâre comfortable.â â Nick YoungÂ
This, right there, is a euphemism, my friend. Nick doesnât lie to his lover. But, he also doesnât fully open the truth by masking it with a euphemism â comfortable.
Nick isnât alone in being euphemistic. Lots of people use this figurative language to either mask the truth or make things sound a little less offensive, rude, or harsh. Others might use euphemisms to downplay the impact of their actions, policies they make, or simply hide the truth with confusing words.
So a euphemism can be both good or bad â depending on how itâs used. Letâs dig into the details so you can make your own judgment about the use of euphemisms in the English language.
What does euphemism mean?
Euphemisms (French: euphĂ©misme) are polite words or phrases that are used to replace offensive or impolite words. Put another way, a euphemism is an indirect expression for whatever you say.Â
Euphemisms are multipurpose phrases used to:
âąÂ Mask the meaning of something
âąÂ Blunt the meaning to reduce the sting
âąÂ Amuse others or be sarcastic
In terms of the wordâs origin, its etymology traces to the 16th century. The word euphemism comes from Greek euphÄmismos from euphÄmos, meaning âsounding good.â
Breaking the word down shows the root is from Greek âeu,â meaning âgood.â The second part comes from âphÄmÄ,â which is speech in Greek â in turn derived from the verb âphanaiâ that means âto speak.â
How do you pronounce euphemism? Like this: yoo·fuh·mi·zm
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FAQs about euphemisms
Whatâs another word for euphemism?
Substitute, polite term, mild alternative, coy term, and understatement are some common euphemism synonyms.
What does the word euphemistic mean?
Euphemistic is an adjective that means using euphemisms in your speech. Example: Bill used euphemistic terms to share his fatherâs loss.Â
What is an example of a euphemism?
Saying she passed away instead of died; between jobs instead of unemployed; couch potato instead of lazy are some examples of euphemisms.
Why use euphemisms?
There are mainly three use cases of euphemisms:
- To reduce the impact of or downplay something
This could be both in a good sense or otherwise. For instance, instead of calling someone âjobless,â you can say, âThey’re on a journey of self-discovery.â
On the flip side, politicians, businesses, and economists sometimes use euphemisms to downplay the negative impact of their strategies, actions, or policies. So, for example, they could refer to accidental deaths as âcollateral damageâ to confirm their political correctness. Or, âfire employeesâ and refer to it as âdownsizingâ instead of calling a spade a spade.
 In this use case, euphemisms also make things less offensive. Letâs say youâve got to go to the washroom, so you say âwater closetâ instead of âtoilet.â Same goes for using indirect expressions for bodily functions such as âbreaking wind.âÂ
- Be sarcastic or amusing
In certain cases, euphemisms help lighten situations, making them less serious by presenting them in a sarcastic manner.
- Discuss taboo, upsetting, or sensitive issues
Itâs this third use case that makes euphemisms important literary devices for writers. So instead of offending someone by speaking directly, writers can rely on euphemisms to cover delicate matters.
In many cases, euphemisms are helpful devices. Except when theyâre used to mask the meaning or downplay something.
In that context, these terms are referred to as the language of hypocrisy. In fact, essayist George Orwell criticized euphemism in his 1946 essay âPolitics and the English Languageâ (1946) by saying the politicians use euphemisms to conceal their true intentions.
Writing tip: While euphemisms are handy (and you can easily find a less offensive replacement form in a thesaurus), make sure you donât compromise on brevity. In short, pick a euphemism thatâs less wordy or a strong adverb for a better description.Â
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Examples of euphemisms
There are several euphemism examples that you can spot in your daily conversations if you pay attention.
When a friend passes away, you never say âthey died.â You try to reduce the impact by saying âpassed awayâ or other synonyms such as âlost their life,â âbreathed their last,â âdearly departed,â and so on.
Similarly, youâll commonly see instructions for âsenior citizensâ instead of âold people.â Here are more examples of euphemisms:
Euthanize ⥠put to sleep
Firing employees ⥠downsizing
Dead ⥠negative patient outcome
Tax increase ⥠revenue enhancement
Note: when using euphemisms, be sure to be inclusive. Hereâs a glossary for inclusive terms that you can refer to as you include euphemisms in your writing.Â
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