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Vinony

understate

verb

  1. minimally state (such as reporting a quantity at a level too low)
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Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /ʌndəˈsteɪt/

verb

Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₁én Proto-Indo-European *h₁entér Proto-Indo-European *(H)n̥dʰí Proto-Indo-European *-ér Proto-Indo-European *(H)n̥dʰér Proto-Germanic *under Proto-West Germanic *undar Old English under- Middle English under- English under- Proto-Indo-European *steh₂- Proto-Italic *status Latin statuslbor. Old French estatbor. Middle English stat English state English understate From under- + state.

  1. To state (something) with less completeness than needed; to minimise or downplay.

    “To call this decision a calculated bet understates the risk; it is a Hail Mary pass.”

  2. To state (something) with an intentional lack of emphasis, in order to express irony.

    “She is the queen of understatement: she understated her critique masterfully.”

  3. To state a quantity that is too low.

    “The company had been understating its liabilities for years.”