euphemism

Universal Words noun ~ (for sth) an indirect word or phrase that people often use to refer to sth embarrassing or unpleasant, sometimes to make it seem more acceptable than it really is: 'Pass away' is a euphemism for 'die'. * 'User fees' is just a politician's euphemism for taxes. euphemistic : euphemistic language * 'We're letting you go' is a euphemistic way of saying 'You're fired.' euphemistically adverb: The prison camps were euphemistically called 'retraining centres'.