understatement

understatement

English

Etymology

under- +‎ statement

Noun

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.

Synonyms

• (rhetorical device): meiosis

Antonyms

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

Hyponyms

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

Related terms

• understate

Translations

Statement less than complete

Czech: zmírnění n Esperanto: maltroigo French: litote (fr), peu dire

German: Untertreibung (de) Polish: niedomówienie, niedookreślenie Romanian: litotă (ro) f

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Dutch

Etymology

Borrowed from English understatement.

Pronunciation

• Audio

  (file)

• Hyphenation: un‧der‧state‧ment

Noun

understatement n (plural understatements)

1. understatement

Synonyms

• parabool

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Italian

Etymology

Borrowed from English understatement.

Noun

understatement m (invariable)

1. understatement