Word Games Pro Dictionary

meiosis

noun

understatement for rhetorical effect (especially when expressing an affirmative by negating its contrary)

Quick reference

Word Facts

Word length
7
Starts with
M
Ends with
S
Contains
EI
Scrabble score
9
Database source
OEWN 2025 Core

How it sounds

Pronunciation

maɪˈəʊsɪs

Meaning

Definitions

noun

  1. understatement for rhetorical effect (especially when expressing an affirmative by negating its contrary)

    “saying ‘I was not a little upset’ when you mean ‘I was very upset’ is an example of litotes”

noun

  1. (genetics) cell division that produces reproductive cells in sexually reproducing organisms; the nucleus divides into four nuclei each containing half the chromosome number (leading to gametes in animals and spores in plants)

In context

Example Sentences

saying ‘I was not a little upset’ when you mean ‘I was very upset’ is an example of litotes

Similar words

Synonyms

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