Understatement

Understatement is a form of speech or disclosure which contains an expression of lesser strength than what would be expected. It is the opposite of an . The rhetorical form of understatement is litotes in which understatement is used for emphasis and irony. This is not to be confused with euphemism, where a polite phrase is used in place of a harsher or more offensive expression.

Understatement often leads to litotes, a rhetorical construct in which understatement is used to emphasize a point. It is a staple of humour in English-speaking cultures. For example in Monty Python's The Meaning of Life, an Army officer has just lost his leg. When asked how he feels, he looks down at his bloody stump and responds, "Stings a bit."

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