euphemism

 
Pronunciation: /ˈjuːfəmɪz(ə)m/

noun

  • a mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt when referring to something unpleasant or embarrassing: the jargon has given us ‘downsizing’ as a euphemism for cutsThe opposite of dysphemism.

Origin:

late 16th century: from Greek euphēmismos, from euphēmizein 'use auspicious words', from eu 'well' + phēmē 'speaking'