Understatement

//ˌʌndəˈsteɪtmənt// noun

noun ·Uncommon ·College level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    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. rhetoric, uncountable, usually

    "A master of understatement"

  2. 2
    a statement that is restrained in ironic contrast to what might have been said wordnet
  3. 3
    An instance of such phrasing or lack of emphasis; an incomplete statement. countable, usually

    "Now that's an understatement."

  4. 4
    An incomplete disclosure that intentionally withholds relevant information. uncountable, usually

Synonyms

All synonyms
abstractionismcoloringdeformationdistortionexaggerationexpressionism

Example

More examples

"There are whole cultures where understatement is bred in the bone. In New England one hears as satisfaction: "It's better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.""

Etymology

From under- + statement or understate + -ment.

Related phrases

figure of speech

More for "understatement"

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.