From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englisheuphemismeu‧phe‧mis‧m /ˈjuːfəmɪzəm/ noun [countable] SLPOLITEa polite word or expression that you use instead of a more direct one to avoid shocking or upsetting someone ‘Pass away’ is a euphemism for ‘die’.
Examples from the Corpus
euphemism• "Pass away" is a euphemism for "die."• Frank lists examples of this craze for economic euphemisms with a mixture of horrified amazement and scorn.• But a recent desire for euphemism by Procter and Gamble strikes me as a possible exception to my rule.• This is not just a liberal euphemism for the city's ethnic diversity.• Both had clearly spent the morning raiding the dictionary of euphemism.• Leg theory or fast leg theory were the euphemisms used.• But these euphemisms never really fitted the bill.• These euphemisms are accepted at face value-to the benefit of those labeled by them.Origin euphemism (1500-1600) Greek euphemismos, from euphemos “sounding good”, from pheme “speech”