genteelism

[ jen-tee-liz-uh m ]
/ dʒɛnˈti lɪz əm /

noun

a word or phrase used in place of another, supposedly less genteel term: “Limb” is a genteelism for “leg.”

Origin of genteelism

First recorded in 1925–30; genteel + -ism

Example sentences from the Web for genteelism

British Dictionary definitions for genteelism

genteelism
/ (dʒɛnˈtiːlɪzəm) /

noun

a word or phrase used in place of a less genteel one