# euphemism

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈjuː.fəˌmɪz.əm/ · frequency rank #31,971

## Definitions
1. The use of a word or phrase to replace another one that is more offensive, blunt or vulgar.
2. A word or phrase that replaces another in this way.

## Etymology
Recorded since 1656; from Ancient Greek εὐφημισμός (euphēmismós), from εὐφημίζω (euphēmízō), from εὔφημος (eúphēmos, “uttering sound of good omen, abstaining from inauspicious words”), from εὖ (eû, “well”) + φήμη (phḗmē, “a voice, a prophetic voice, rumor, talk”), from φημί (phēmí, “to speak, say”).

## Common misspellings (13)
`epuhemism`, `euhpemism`, `eupehmism`, `eupheimsm`, `euphemims`, `euphemismm`, `euphemissm`, `euphemmism`, `euphemsim`, `euphhemism`, `euphmeism`, `eupphemism`, `uephemism`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/euphemism