code word
noun
a euphemistic or politically acceptable catchword or phrase used instead of a blunter or less acceptable term: The official report said the diplomats had a “frank and serious discussion”—code words for “angry argument.”
Origin of code word
First recorded in 1880–85
Words nearby code word
code dating,
code flag,
code name,
code napoléon,
code of hammurabi,
code word,
code-name,
code-sharing,
code-switching,
codec,
codeclination
Example sentences from the Web for codeword
Jazz is now a codeword for sophistication and classiness, even affluence.
Jazz (The Music of Coffee and Donuts) Has Respect, But It Needs Love |Ted Gioia |June 15, 2014 |DAILY BEASTA hilton is the codeword for a celebrity, or anyone famous, whether or not they have talent.
Thus "amber" is the codeword for £1; "heliotrope" for £20; "rainbow" for "win and 1, 2."
British Dictionary definitions for codeword
codeword
/ (ˈkəʊdˌwɜːd) /
noun
(esp in military use) a word used to identify a classified plan, operation, etc
Also: codename