A euphemism is a figure of speech in which a milder, less direct word or phrase is used to replace a word or phrase that might be considered harsh, offensive, unpleasant, or too direct. Euphemisms are often used to soften the impact of sensitive or uncomfortable topics.
Here are some examples of euphemisms:
1. Passed away instead of died:
"I'm sorry to hear that your grandfather passed away last night."
2. Correctional facility instead of prison:
"He spent two years in a correctional facility after the conviction."
3. Let go or laid off instead of fired:
"Unfortunately, they had to let several employees go due to budget cuts."
4. Visually challenged instead of blind:
"She's visually challenged and uses a guide dog for assistance."
5. Economical with the truth instead of lying:
"It's not that he lied; he was just being economical with the truth."
6. Senior citizen instead of elderly person:
"The organization provides support services for senior citizens in the community."
7. Pre-owned instead of used (typically for products like cars):
"I bought a pre-owned car that's in excellent condition."
8. Downsizing instead of layoffs:
"The company is going through a period of downsizing to streamline operations."
9. Comfort room instead of restroom or bathroom:
"Excuse me, where is the comfort room?"
10. Gone to a better place instead of died:
"I'm sorry for your loss; he's gone to a better place now."
11. Domestic engineer instead of housewife/househusband:
"She's not just a housewife; she's a domestic engineer managing our household."
12. Physically challenged instead of disabled:
"The organization works to improve accessibility for the physically challenged."
13. Put to sleep instead of euthanized (for pets):
"We had to make the difficult decision to put our dog to sleep due to his illness."
14. Developmentally delayed instead of mentally challenged:
"The program provides support for children with developmental delays."
15. Enhanced interrogation techniques instead of torture:
"Controversial enhanced interrogation techniques were used to extract information."
Euphemisms serve various purposes, including maintaining politeness, avoiding discomfort, or addressing sensitive subjects with sensitivity. They are commonly used in both formal and informal language and can vary in intensity, from mild to more significant substitutions of words or phrases.