understatement

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English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

under- +‎ statement or understate +‎ -ment

Noun[edit]

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
    Antonym: hyperbole
    Hyponym: litotes
    A master of understatement
  2. (countable) An instance of such phrasing or lack of emphasis.
    Hyponym: laconism
    Now that's an understatement.
  3. An incomplete disclosure that intentionally withholds relevant information.

Related terms[edit]

Translations[edit]

See also[edit]

Dutch[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Borrowed from English understatement.

Pronunciation[edit]

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

Noun[edit]

understatement n (plural understatements)

  1. understatement

Synonyms[edit]

Italian[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Unadapted borrowing from English understatement.

Pronunciation[edit]

Noun[edit]

understatement m (invariable)

  1. understatement

References[edit]

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