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understatement. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
understatement, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
understatement in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
understatement you have here. The definition of the word
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English
Etymology
under- + statement or understate + -ment
Noun
understatement (usually uncountable, plural understatements)
- (uncountable, rhetoric) A figure of speech whereby something is made to seem smaller or less important than it actually is, either through phrasing or lack of emphasis, often for ironic effect.
- Synonym: meiosis
- Antonym: hyperbole
- Hyponym: litotes
A master of understatement
- (countable) An instance of such phrasing or lack of emphasis.
- Hyponym: laconism
Now that's an understatement.
- An incomplete disclosure that intentionally withholds relevant information.
Related terms
Translations
statement less than complete
See also
Dutch
Etymology
Borrowed from English understatement.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˌɑn.də(r)ˈsteːt.mənt/ (the realisation may approximate English pronunciation: /ər/ will often be realised as or )
- Hyphenation: un‧der‧state‧ment
Noun
understatement n (plural understatements)
- understatement
Synonyms
Italian
Etymology
Unadapted borrowing from English understatement.
Pronunciation
Noun
understatement m (invariable)
- understatement
References