English Dictionary

Definition of “understatement

understatement (ˌʌndəˈsteɪtməntPronunciation for understatement

Definitions

noun

  1. the act or an instance of stating something in restrained terms, or as less than it is

Usage examples

  • Something like placing flowers on a grave, but a quiet understatement.
    Matthews, Lew, A Conviction of Guilt (1993)
  • COM: "To say the tour has been a little booze soaked is quite possibly an understatement.
    NME (New Musical Express) (2003)
  • Calling the SARS epidemic a nightmare for Asian tourism would be an understatement.
    canada.com (2004)
  • To say it opens a whole new can of worms is something of an understatement.
    Belfast Telegraph (2004)
  • A discerning eye needs only a hint, and understatement leaves the imagination free to build its own elaborations.
    Page, Russell, The Education of a Gardener (1994)

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