understatement

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English

Etymology

From under- +‎ statement or understate +‎ -ment.

Pronunciation

Noun

understatement (usually uncountable, plural understatements)

  1. (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
    Antonyms: auxesis, hyperbole
    Hyponym: litotes
    A master of understatement
    • 2004, Rowan Manahan, Where's My Oasis?:, page 158:
      And that mode of expression is very demurring and self-deprecating. Victorian English was all about understatement.
  2. (countable) An instance of such phrasing or lack of emphasis; an incomplete statement.
    Synonym: trivialization
    Antonyms: exaggeration, overstatement
    Hyponym: laconism
    Now that's an understatement.
  3. An incomplete disclosure that intentionally withholds relevant information.

Coordinate terms

Derived terms

Translations

Dutch

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from English understatement.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˌɑn.də(r)ˈsteːt.mənt/ (the realisation may approximate English pronunciation: /ər/ will often be realised as or )
  • Audio:(file)
  • Hyphenation: un‧der‧state‧ment

Noun

understatement n (plural understatements)

  1. (rhetoric) understatement
    Synonym: parabool

Italian

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from English understatement.

Pronunciation

Noun

understatement m (invariable)

  1. (rhetoric) understatement

References

  1. ^ understatement in Luciano Canepari, Dizionario di Pronuncia Italiana (DiPI)
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