Litotes
noun /ˈlʌɪtəʊtiːz/ — Understatement by denying the opposite — 'not bad' for 'excellent'.
Definition
A figure of speech involving understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by the negative of its contrary — saying 'not unhappy' rather than 'happy', or 'not bad' rather than 'excellent'.
Beyond the definition
Litotes is the language of British understatement taken to a systematic extreme. 'Not unpleasant' for delicious, 'not unintelligent' for brilliant — the double negative that creates a kind of soft affirmation, a statement that acknowledges the positive while maintaining distance from direct enthusiasm.
Origin & history
From Greek litotes (plainness, simplicity), from litos (plain, simple). The paradox: the simple figure is actually double — it arrives at its meaning through two negatives rather than one positive.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The British weather was 'not entirely unpleasant' — litotes for sunshine.
'Not bad at all' is a litotes that in English understatement can mean extraordinary.
He deployed litotes with precision — never saying a thing directly when a careful negative would do better.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Litotes” when the meaning fits your context: A figure of speech involving understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by the negative of its contrary — saying 'not unhappy' rather than 'happy', or 'not bad' rather than 'excellent'.
Synonyms
understatement, double negative, meiosis
Antonyms
hyperbole, overstatement
Related words
Questions about this word
What does "Litotes" mean?
Litotes is noun meaning: Understatement by denying the opposite — 'not bad' for 'excellent'.. A figure of speech involving understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by the negative of its contrary — saying 'not unhappy' rather than 'happy', or 'not bad' rather than 'excellent'.
Where does the word "Litotes" come from?
From Greek litotes (plainness, simplicity), from litos (plain, simple). The paradox: the simple figure is actually double — it arrives at its meaning through two negatives rather than one positive.