anˈtifrəsə̇s noun
( plural antiphra·ses -əˌsēz)
Etymology: Late Latin, from Greek, from anti- anti- (I) + phrasis diction — more at phrase
: the use of words in senses opposite to the generally accepted meanings or the use of a word in this way usually for humorous or ironical purposes (as, a giant of three feet, four inches)
• anti·phras·tic |antə|frastik adjective
• an·ti·phras·ti·cal·ly -tə̇k(ə)lē, -li adverb