Presenting something as less important, serious, or extreme than it actually is, often for humorous or subtle effect.
Formed from 'under-' (meaning below or less) plus 'statement' (from Latin 'stare,' to stand). This compound emerged in English around the 17th century when writers began deliberately minimizing dramatic descriptions.
British humor is famously built on understatement—saying 'this weather is a bit damp' during a hurricane is actually a sophisticated communication strategy that makes the listener do the mental work of understanding the true severity.
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