understatement

//ˌʌn.dəˈsteɪt.mənt//
C1Frequency Level 11Neutral
Visual representation of understatement

Noun

understatementSingular
understatementsPlural
1

A statement that represents something as smaller, less important, or less serious than it actually is.

To say the movie was 'okay' is an understatement—it was absolutely brilliant.

2

The practice or technique of deliberately minimizing the significance of something for rhetorical or ironic effect.

British humor often relies on understatement to create ironic effects.

understatement - Deep Vocabulary