Term: Litotes

Definition:

Litotes is a kind of understatement, where the speaker or writer uses a negative of a word ironically, to mean the opposite. Litotes is to be found in English literature right back to Anglo-Saxon times.

EG: She's not the friendliest person I know. (= she's an unfriendly person)

'Litotes' - Related Links

Grammar Topic:  Figure of Speech

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