a word or phrase used in place of a less genteel one
genteelism in American English
(dʒenˈtilɪzəm)
noun
a word or phrase used in place of another, supposedly less genteel term
“Limb” is a genteelism for “leg.”
Word origin
[1925–30; genteel + -ism]This word is first recorded in the period 1925–30. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: buildup, dropout, hot spot, runout, turnaround-ism is a suffix appearing in loanwords from Greek, where it was used to form action nounsfrom verbs (baptism). On this model, -ism is used as a productive suffix in the formation of nouns denoting action or practice,state or condition, principles, doctrines, a usage or characteristic, devotion oradherence, etc. (criticism; barbarism; Darwinism; despotism; plagiarism; realism; witticism; intellectualism)
Examples of 'genteelism' in a sentence
genteelism
The most likely explanation is that he wanted a genteelism.