/ ˈjuːfəmɪzəm; NAmE / noun
euphemism (for sth) an indirect word or phrase that people often use to refer to sth embarrassing or unpleasant, sometimes to make it seem more acceptable than it really is :
'Pass away' is a euphemism for 'die'.
'User fees' is just a politician's euphemism for taxes.
► eu·phem·is·tic / ˌjuːfəˈmɪstɪk; NAmE / adjective :
euphemistic language
► eu·phem·is·tic·al·ly / ˌjuːfəˈmɪstɪkli; NAmE / adverb :
The prison camps were euphemistically called 'retraining centres'.
••
WORD ORIGIN
late 16th cent.: from Greek euphēmismos , from euphēmizein use auspicious words, from eu well + phēmē speaking.