understatement en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˌʌndɚˈsteɪtmənt/ (General-American)
- /ˌʌndəˈsteɪtmənt/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- (Midwestern-US) audio
Etymology
From under- + statement or understate + -ment.
Meanings
-
(rhetoric, uncountable, usually) 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.
And that mode of expression is very demurring and self-deprecating. Victorian English was all about understatement.
2004, Rowan Manahan, Where's My Oasis?:, page 158:A master of understatement
-
(countable, usually) An instance of such phrasing or lack of emphasis; an incomplete statement.
Now that's an understatement.
- (uncountable, usually) An incomplete disclosure that intentionally withholds relevant information.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| understatements | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Antonyms
hyperbole · overstatement · exaggeration · auxesis
Coordinates
litote · to say the least · do a lot of work
Deriveds
Synonyms
Translations (25)
de Tiefstapelei (statement less than complete) · sv underdrift (statement less than complete) · es frivolización (statement less than complete) · es comedimiento (a figure speech often for ironic effect) · fr rien dire (statement less than complete) · hu enyhe kifejezés (statement less than complete) · he לְשׁוֹן הַמְעָטָה (statement less than complete) · hu visszafogott megfogalmazás (statement less than complete) · nl understatement (statement less than complete) · da underdrivelse (statement less than complete) · eo maltroigo (statement less than complete) · de Untertreibung (statement less than complete) · pl niedomówienie (statement less than complete) · cs zmírnění (statement less than complete) · es mesura (a figure speech often for ironic effect) · pl niedookreślenie (statement less than complete) · fi vähätelmä (statement less than complete) · ro litotă (statement less than complete) · pt eufemismo (statement less than complete) · it ipobole (a figure speech often for ironic effect) · fr litote (statement less than complete) · ru преуменьше́ние (statement less than complete) · fr peu dire (statement less than complete) · ga maolaisnéis (statement less than complete) · it eufemismo (statement less than complete)