Guide to Literary Terms | Euphemism

Euphemism - the use of an indirect, mild, delicate, inoffensive, or vague word or expression for one thought to be coarse, sordid, or otherwise unpleasant, offensive, or blunt.

The word is from the Greek euphemismos derived from euphemizein, meaning “to speak words of good omen.”

Common examples of euphemisms are “passed away” for died, “little girl/boy’s room” for bathroom, and “terminal illness” for deadly illness.