| − | A '''euphemism''' is the use of one word or phrase to replace another to respect the sensibilities of the listener. Example euphemisms for [[death]] include ''kick the bucket'' and ''pass over''. "Creation science" is a euphemism for "creationism" used when addressing certain audiences. | + | A '''euphemism''' is the replacement of a direct statement of something potentially unpleasant with an indirect expression. For example, instead of stating that someone has "died", one might say that he has "passed away."<ref>This may not be the best example, since "passed away" connotes moving on to the afterlife, while "died" does not carry that same connotation.</ref> Another example is to say that someone was "let go," rather than "fired". |
| − | [[category:linguistics]] | + | In [[hermeneutics]] the term "artistic license" is used by the less [[conservative]], more [[liberal]] [[Historical-critical method (Higher criticism)|textual critics of the Bible]] as a euphemism for saying that the Gospel writers invented stories, embellished the truth, altered facts and lied. |