| ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ noun
Etymology: under (III) + statement
1. : the act of understanding : a statement below the truth
understatement of population growth
2. : restrained statement in ironic contrast to what might be said : studied avoidance of emphasis or exaggeration
we have been taught to value terseness and understatement — Irving Howe