understatement

Contents

EnglishEdit

EtymologyEdit

under- +‎ statement

NounEdit

understatement (usually uncountable, plural understatements)

1. An incomplete statement, particularly:
   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; meiosis.

      A master of understatement

   2. An instance of such phrasing or lack of emphasis.

      Now that's an understatement.

   3. An incomplete disclosure that intentionally withholds relevant information.

SynonymsEdit

• (rhetorical device): meiosis

AntonymsEdit

• (generally): overstatement
• (rhetorical device): See hyperbole

HyponymsEdit

• (rhetorical device, stating something by denying its opposite): litotes
• (instance of its use, extreme brevity): laconism

Related termsEdit

• understate

TranslationsEdit

Statement less than complete

• Czech: zmírnění n
• French: litote (fr), peu dire
• German: Untertreibung (de)

• Polish: niedomówienie, niedookreślenie
• Romanian: litotă (ro) f

---

DutchEdit

EtymologyEdit

Borrowed from English understatement.

PronunciationEdit

• Audio

  (file)

• Hyphenation: un‧der‧state‧ment

NounEdit

understatement n (plural understatements)

1. understatement

SynonymsEdit

• parabool

---

ItalianEdit

EtymologyEdit

Borrowed from English understatement.

NounEdit

understatement m (invariable)

1. understatement