NSW Opportunity Class

Learn “Understatement

A free exam-vocabulary guide with a precise meaning, natural context and a memory connection that makes the word easier to retrieve.

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NSW Opportunity Class

Understatement

noun/un-der-STATE-munt/

An understatement is saying something is smaller or less important than it really is.

It was an understatement to say the champion was 'okay' at running.

Understatement means you 'under-state' it — you state it as less than it truly is.

Use understatement for deliberately downplaying something, often for humour or modesty.