Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.
Definition: Understatement |
UnderstatementNoun1. A statement that is restrained in ironic contrast to what might have been said. Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved. |
Date "understatement" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1869. (references) |
| Domain | Definition |
Language | Restrained statement in ironic contrast to what might be said: studied avoidance of emphasis or exaggeration. Source: European Union. (references) |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
| Antonym: exaggeration (n). (additional references) |
Crosswords: Understatement |
| English words defined with "understatement": litotes ♦ meiosis. (references) |
| Non-English Usage: "Understatement" is also a word in the following languages with English translations in parentheses. German (understatement), Swedish (understatement). |
| Domain | Usage | |
Screenplays | Understatement of the century. (What Women Want; writing credit: Josh Goldsmith; Cathy Yuspa) | |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | ||
| Thumbnail | Description & Credit |  | Masterly understatement. Credit: Library of Congress. |
Source: pictures compiled by the editor from various references; see picture credits. | |||
| "Understatement" is generally used as a noun (singular) -- approximately 100.00% of the time. "Understatement" is used about 188 times out of a sample of 100 million words spoken or written in English. Its rank is based on over 700,000 words used in the English language. Some parts-of-speech are not covered due to the samples used by the British National Corpus. (note: percents less than one-hundredth of one percent have been omitted) |
| Parts of Speech | Percent | Usage per 100 Million Words | Rank in English |
| Noun (singular) | 100% | 188 | 22,417 |
Source: compiled by the editor from several corpora; see credits.
| The following statistics estimate the number of searches per day across the major English-language search engines as identified by various trade publications. Hyperlinks lead to commercial use of the expression at Amazon.com. |
| Expression | Frequency per Day |
understatement | 51 |
found glory lyrics new understatement | 12 |
lyrics understatement | 12 |
found glory new understatement | 5 |
example understatement | 3 |
by found glory lyrics new understatement | 2 |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
| Language | Translations for "understatement"; alternative meanings/domain in parentheses. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Albanian | zvogëlim (decrease, detraction, diminution, lessening, mitigation, reduction, relaxation), shfaqje me rezervë. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Arabic | تصريح مكبوح. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bulgarian | умерено твърдение, сдържано изказване, омаловажаване (decrial, denigration, depreciation, stultification). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chinese | 谨慎的陈述. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Czech | zmírnìní výroku, zdrženlivé vyjádření, úmyslné zmírnìní. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Farsi | کتمان حقیقت , دست کم گرفتن (Minimize, Underestimate, Underrate, Understate). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
French | litote. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
German | Untertreibung (playing things down), Unterbewertung (underrating, undervaluation). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Greek | μείωση (abatement, decrease, decrement, depletion, derogation, deterioration, detraction, diminution, discount, mitigation, reduction, shrinkage, slackening), υποτιμητική έκθεση, υποτιμητική ομιλία, υποτίμηση (belittlement, debasement, deflation, depreciation, devaluation, disparagement). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hebrew | לשון "מעט" (meiosis). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hungarian | tények enyhítése, csökkentés (abatement, attenuation, curtailment, cut, cutback, cutting, cutting down, derogation, diminution, extenuation, mitigation, reducing, reduction, retrenchment). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Italian | attenuazione (attenuation, extenuation, mitigation). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Manx | meayl-raa. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pig Latin | erstatementunday atenuação (assuagement, attenuation, extenuatory, mitigation, palliation, seasoning). (various references) afirmaţie modestã. (various references) замалчивание, преуменьшение. (various references) nepotpuno izražavanje. (various references) atenuación (attenuation, extenuation). (various references) undervärdering (underestimate, underrating). (various references) olduğundan küçük gösterme, az gösterme (meiosis). (various references) стримане висловлювання, применшення (depreciation, derogation, detraction, palliation). (various references) sự nói không đúng sự thật báo cáo không đúng sự thật, sự nói giảm đi, sự nói bớt. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Derivations | |
Words beginning with "understatement": understatements. (additional references) | |
| |
"Understatement" is suggested in spellcheckers for the following: understatment, underststement. (additional references) | |
| Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references). | |
| # of Phoneme Matches | Pronunciation | Word(s) rhyming with "understatement" (pronounced u"nderstā'tmunt) |
| 9 | -er s t ā' t m u n t | overstatement. |
| 5 | -t m u n t | abatement, adjustment, allotment, apartment, appointment, assortment, commitment, compartment, comportment, contentment, department, deportment, disappointment, disenchantment, disinvestment, divestment, enactment, enchantment, enlistment, excitement, incitement, indictment, investment, maltreatment, misstatement, mistreatment, ointment, presentment, readjustment, reappointment, recruitment, reenactment, reinstatement, reinvestment, resentment, restatement, statement, treatment. |
| 4 | -m u n t | abandonment, accompaniment, accomplishment, accouterment, achievement, acknowledgement, acknowledgment, adamant, adjournment, adornment, advancement, advertisement, advisement, aggrandizement, agreement, ailment, alignment, amazement, amendment, amusement, announcement, annulment, antigovernment, appeasement, apportionment, argument, armament, arraignment, arrangement, assessment, assignment, astonishment, atonement, attachment, attainment, banishment, basement, battlement, bemusement, bereavement, betterment, bewilderment, blandishment, bombardment, claimant, Clement, commandment, commencement, complement, concealment, condiment, confinement, consignment, containment, copayment, curtailment, debarment, debasement, deferment, deployment, derailment, detachment, determent, detriment, development, diminishment, disagreement, disarmament, disbarment, disbursement, discernment, discouragement, disenfranchisement, disengagement, disestablishment, disgruntlement, disillusionment, dismantlement, dismemberment, displacement, dormant, easement, element, embankment, embarrassment, embayment, embellishment, embezzlement, embodiment, emplacement, employment, empowerment, encampment, encirclement, encouragement, encroachment, endangerment, endearment, endorsement, endowment, enforcement, engagement, enhancement, enjoyment, enlargement, enlightenment, enrichment, enrollment, enslavement, entanglement, entertainment, enticement, entitlement, entombment, entrapment, entrenchment, environment, equipment, escapement, escarpment, establishment, estrangement, excrement, experiment, extinguishment, figment, filament, formant, fragment, fulfillment, garment, garnishment, government, harassment, impairment, impeachment, impediment, implement, impoundment, impoverishment, impressment, imprisonment, improvement, inclement, increment, inducement, informant, infotainment, infringement, installment, instrument, integument, internment, intersegment, involvement, judgement, judgment, ligament, management, measurement, micromanagement, misgovernment, misjudgment, mismanagement, moment, monument, movement, nongovernment, nonmanagement, nonpayment, nourishment, ornament, orpiment, outplacement, overpayment, parchment, parliament, pavement, payment, pigment, placement, postponement, postretirement, predicament, prejudgment, prepayment, procurement, pronouncement, punishment, puzzlement, realignment, reapportionment, rearmament, rearrangement, reassessment, reassignment, redeployment, redevelopment, reemployment, refinement, refreshment, refurbishment, regiment, reimbursement, reinforcement, repayment, replacement, replenishment, requirement, resettlement, retirement, retrenchment, rudiment, sacrament, sediment, segment, sentiment, settlement, shipment, supplement, temperament, tenement, testament, tournament, underdevelopment, underemployment, undergarment, underpayment, unemployment, vehement, wonderment. |
| 3 | -u n t | aberrant, abhorrent, abortifacient, absent, absorbent, abstinent, abundant, accelerant, accident, accountant, adherent, adjacent, adjutant, adolescent, afferent, affiant, affluent, agent, ambient, ambivalent, ancient, antecedent, antidepressant, antioxidant, apparent, applicant, ardent, argent, arrant, arrogant, ascendant, aspirant, assailant, assistant, astringent, attendant, belligerent, beneficent, benevolent, blatant, brilliant, buoyant, celebrant, clairvoyant, client, coefficient, cogent, cognizant, coherent, coincident, combatant, competent, complacent, complainant, complaisant, compliant, component, concomitant, concurrent, confident, confluent, consequent, consistent, consonant, constant, constituent, consultant, contaminant, contestant, continent, contingent, convalescent, convenient, convent, convergent, conversant, coolant, corespondent, cormorant, correspondent, Courant, covenant, Crescent, crosscurrent, current, decadent, decedent, decent, declarant, decongestant, defendant, defiant, deficient, defoliant, delinquent, deodorant, dependent, depressant, descendant, descendent, despondent, detergent, determinant, deterrent, deviant, different, diligent, discordant, disinfectant, disobedient, dispersant, dissident, dissonant, distant, divalent, divergent, docent, dominant, ebullient, efferent, effervescent, efficient, effluent, elegant, elephant, eloquent, emergent, emigrant, eminent, entrant, equivalent, errant, esculent, evanescent, evident, excellent, exigent, existent, exorbitant, expectant, expectorant, expedient, exponent, extant, extravagant, exuberant, exultant, Fabricant, fervent, flagrant, flamboyant, flatulent, flippant, fluent, fluorescent, fragrant, fraudulent, frequent, gallant, giant, grandiloquent, grandparent, hesitant, hydrant, ignorant, immanent, immigrant, imminent, impatient, impertinent, important, impotent, imprudent, inadvertent, incandescent, incessant, incident, incipient, incoherent, incompetent, inconsistent, incontinent, inconvenient, incumbent, indecent, independent, indifferent, indigent, indignant, indolent, indulgent, inefficient, infant, infrequent, ingredient, inhabitant, inhalant, inherent, innocent, inpatient, insignificant, insistent, insolent, insolvent, instant, insufficient, insurgent, intelligent, intercurrent, interdependent, intermittent, intolerant, intransigent, invariant, iridescent, irrelevant, irreverent, irritant, itinerant, jubilant, latent, leant, lenient, lieutenant, litigant, lubricant, lucent, luminescent, luxuriant, magnificent, malevolent, malignant, merchant, migrant, militant, miscreant, monovalent, mordant, mutant, nascent, negligent, noncombatant, nonexistent, nonresident, nonviolent, nutrient, obedient, observant, obsolescent, occupant, odorant, omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, operant, opponent, opulent, outpatient, overconfident, oxidant, pageant, parent, participant, patent, patient, peasant, penchant, pendant, penitent, pennant, percipient, permanent, persistent, pertinent, petulant, pheasant, piquant, pleasant, pliant, poignant, pollutant, potent, preadolescent, precedent, predominant, preeminent, pregnant, prescient, present, prevalent, proficient, prominent, propellant, proponent, protestant, provident, prudent, prurient, pungent, pursuant, quadrant, quiescent, quotient, radiant, rampant, reagent, recalcitrant, recent, recipient, recombinant, recurrent, redundant, refrigerant, Regent, registrant, relevant, reliant, reluctant, reminiscent, remnant, repellent, repentant, repugnant, resident, resilient, resistant, resonant, resplendent, respondent, resultant, resurgent, retardant, reticent, reverent, rodent, ruminant, salient, seafront, sealant, semipermanent, Sequent, sergeant, serpent, servant, significant, silent, solvent, somnolent, stagnant, stimulant, strident, stringent, student, subcontinent, subsequent, subservient, succulent, sufficient, supergiant, superintendent, supplicant, suppressant, surfactant, talent, tangent, tenant, tetravalent, tolerant, torrent, transcendent, transient, translucent, transparent, trenchant, trident, triumphant, truant, truculent, tumescent, turbulent, tyrant, undercurrent, unimportant, unpleasant, unrepentant, urgent, vacant, vagrant, valiant, variant, verdant, vibrant, vigilant, violent, virulent, warrant. |
Source: compiled by the editor (additional references); see credits. | ||
Scrabble® Enable2K-Verified Anagrams | |
| Words within the letters "a-d-e-e-e-m-n-n-r-s-t-t-t-u" | |
-2 letters: entreatments. | |
-3 letters: attunements, endearments, entreatment, entrustment, menstruated, restatement. | |
-4 letters: attunement, determents, deuterates, endearment, enumerated, enumerates, menstruate, nemerteans, resentment, transmuted, treatments, unattested, undereaten, understate. | |
-5 letters: attendees, attenders, denatures, determent, deuterate, edentates, emendates, entreated, entremets, entrusted, enumerate, estreated, mesentera, nemertean, numerated, numerates, sauntered, smartened, smattered, statement, steamered, stuttered, tenderest, tenements, testament, tradesmen, transmute, treatment, undereats, untreated. | |
| Words containing the letters "a-d-e-e-e-m-n-n-r-s-t-t-t-u" | |
+1 letter: understatements. | |
+4 letters: counterdemonstrate. | |
+5 letters: counterdemonstrated, counterdemonstrates. | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro. | |
Hexadecimal (or equivalents, 770AD-1900s) (references)55 6E 64 65 72 73 74 61 74 65 6D 65 6E 74 |
| Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519; backwards) (references)
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| American Sign Language (origins from 1620-1817 in Italy and, especially, France) (references)
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| Semaphore (1791, in France) (references)
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| Braille (1829, in France) (references)
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Morse Code (1836) (references)..- -. -.. . .-. ... - .- - . -- . -. - |
| Dancing Men (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, 1903) (references)
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Binary Code (1918-1938, probably earlier) (references)01010101 01101110 01100100 01100101 01110010 01110011 01110100 01100001 01110100 01100101 01101101 01100101 01101110 01110100 |
HTML Code (1990) (references)U n d e r s t a t e m e n t |
ISO 10646 (1991-1993) (references)0055 006E 0064 0065 0072 0073 0074 0061 0074 0065 006D 0065 006E 0074 |
| British Sign Language (Fingerspelling, BSL; 1992, British Deaf Association Dictionary of British Sign Language) (references)
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Encryption (beginner's substitution cypher): (references)5580707184858667867179718086 |
| 1. Definition 2. Crosswords 3. Usage: Modern 4. Images: Photo Album | 5. Usage Frequency 6. Expressions: Internet 7. Translations: Modern 8. Derivations | 9. Rhymes 10. Anagrams 11. Orthography 12. Bibliography |
Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.
