Understatements

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A phrase that conveys less significance or seriousness than what is actually warranted
2. An expression that intentionally diminishes the perceived importance or seriousness of a situation
3. Statements that describe a situation or fact as less extreme or important than it really is

Etymology: "Understatements" is the plural of "understatement," a noun formed from "under-" and "statement." The inflected form simply means more than one such remark: a deliberately mild description that makes something sound less serious or dramatic than it is. The base word "statement" comes from the verb "state," which traces back through Old French to Latin "status," meaning a condition or standing. The prefix "under-" is an old English element meaning below or beneath, here used in the sense of insufficient or less than the full amount. Put together, the two parts describe a statement that falls short of the full truth about how serious something is.

Synonyms: minimization, diminution

Antonyms: overstatement, exaggeration