euph.

Writing & Everyday abbreviation · Grammar and Dictionary

euph. stands for Euphemism, a grammar and dictionary abbreviation.

Marks a mild or indirect expression substituted for one considered harsh, blunt or embarrassing, such as "pass away" for "die." Dictionaries and usage guides label euphemisms so readers grasp the underlying meaning.

Example: let go (v. phr.) euph. to dismiss an employee from a job

Usage notes

Euphemisms cluster around death, illness, bodily functions and money. George Orwell's essay "Politics and the English Language" (1946) attacked political euphemisms that hide violence behind abstract words like "pacification." Over time euphemisms absorb the stigma of what they replace, prompting new ones, a cycle Steven Pinker called the "euphemism treadmill."

Related abbreviations

More grammar and dictionary abbreviations

• derog. – Derogatory
• det. – Determiner
• dial. – Dialect
• dim. – Diminutive
• esp. – Especially
• etym. – Etymology
• fem. – Feminine
• fig. – Figuratively
• Fr. – French
• GA – General American
• gen. – Genitive
• Ger. – German

See all 93 grammar and dictionary abbreviations →

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