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Understatement is a form of speech in which a lesser expression is used than what would be expected. This is not to be confused with euphemism
Euphemism

A euphemism is a substitution of an agreeable or less offensive expression in place of one that may offend or suggest something unpleasant to the listener, or in the case of #Doublespeak, to make it less troublesome for the speaker....
, where a polite phrase is used in place of a harsher or more offensive expression.

Understatement is a staple of humor in English-speaking cultures, especially in British humour
British humour

British humour is a somewhat general term applied to certain comedic motifs that are often prevalent in comedic acts originating in the United Kingdom and its current or former colonies....
. For example, in Monty Python's The Meaning of Life, a suburban dinner party is invaded by Death, who wears a long black cloak and carries a scythe.






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Understatement is a form of speech in which a lesser expression is used than what would be expected. This is not to be confused with euphemism
Euphemism

A euphemism is a substitution of an agreeable or less offensive expression in place of one that may offend or suggest something unpleasant to the listener, or in the case of #Doublespeak, to make it less troublesome for the speaker....
, where a polite phrase is used in place of a harsher or more offensive expression.

Understatement is a staple of humor in English-speaking cultures, especially in British humour
British humour

British humour is a somewhat general term applied to certain comedic motifs that are often prevalent in comedic acts originating in the United Kingdom and its current or former colonies....
. For example, in Monty Python's The Meaning of Life, a suburban dinner party is invaded by Death, who wears a long black cloak and carries a scythe. He is the Grim Reaper; the party is over; the guests must all go with him. "Well," says one party guest, "that's cast rather a gloom over the evening, hasn't it?" In another scene, an Army officer has just lost his leg. When asked how he feels, he looks down at his bloody stump and responds, "Stings a bit."

Notable historic examples

Event: The well-known Victorian
Victorian era

The Victorian Era of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the period of Victoria of the United Kingdom reign from June 1837 to January 1901....
 critique of Cleopatra's behavior: "So unlike the home life of our own dear Queen!"

Event: Emperor Hirohito of Japan, discussing the atomic bombing of Hiroshima in his first radio broadcast (15 August 1945). Comment: "The war situation has developed not necessarily to Japan’s advantage."

Event: During the Kuala Lumpur to Perth leg of British Airways Flight 9
British Airways Flight 9

British Airways Flight 9, sometimes referred to as the Jakarta incident, was a scheduled British Airways flight from London Heathrow Airport to Auckland, with stops in Bombay, Madras, Kuala Lumpur, Perth, Western Australia, and Melbourne....
 on 24 June, 1982, volcanic ash
Volcanic ash

Volcanic ash consists of small tephra, which are bits of pulverized rock and glass created by volcano eruptions, less than in diameter. There are three mechanisms of volcanic ash formation: gas release under decompression causing magmatic eruptions; thermal contraction from chilling on contact with water causing phreatomagmatic eruptions...
 causes all four engines of the Boeing 747
Boeing 747

The Boeing 747 is a wide-body aircraft commercial airliner, often referred to by the nickname "Jumbo Jet". It is among the world's most recognizable aircraft, and was the first widebody ever produced....
 aircraft to fail. Although pressed for time as the aircraft rapidly lost altitude, Captain Eric Moody still managed to make an announcement to the passengers. Comment: "Ladies and Gentlemen, this is your Captain speaking. We have a small problem. All four engines have stopped. We are doing our damnedest to get them going again. I trust you are not in too much distress."

Event: A 2006 interview regarding current affairs in the Middle East
Middle East

File:GreaterMiddleEast1.pngThe Middle East is a region that spans southwestern Asia, western Asia, and northeastern Africa. It has no clear boundaries, often used as a synonym to Near East, in opposition to Far East....
 with the Egyptian Foreign Minister. Comment by the Foreign Minister: "I think there's a problem between Shias
Shi'a Islam

Shia Islam , is the second largest denomination of Islam, after Sunni Islam.Similiar to other branches of Islam, Shi'a Islam is based on the teachings of Islamic holy book, the Qur'an and message of the final prophet of Islam, Muhammad....
 and Sunnis
Sunni Islam

Sunni Islam is the Demographics of Islam Divisions of Islam of Islam. Sunni Islam is also referred to as Ahl as-Sunnah wa?l-Jama?ah or Ahl as-Sunnah for short....
". (BBC World Service
BBC World Service

The BBC World Service is one of the most widely recognised international broadcasting, currently broadcasting in 32 languages to many parts of the world via analogue and digital shortwave, internet streaming and podcasting, satellite, FM and MW relays....
, 23:50, Australian Eastern Standard Time, May 18 2006)

See also

  • Litotes
    Litotes

    In rhetoric, litotes is a figure of speech in which, rather than making a certain statement directly, a speaker expresses it even more effectively, or achieves emphasis, by denying its opposite....
  • Hyperbole
    Hyperbole

    Hyperbole comes from ancient Greek "?pe?????" and is a figure of speech in which statements are exaggerated. It may be used to evoke strong feelings or to create a strong impression, but is rarely meant to be taken literally....
  • Meiosis (figure of speech)
    Meiosis (figure of speech)

    In rhetoric, meiosis is a euphemism figure of speech that intentionally understates something or implies that it is lesser in significance or size than it really is....