Phrase guide

avoidance speech

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

a special restricted speech style in certain languages used to refer to taboo subjects, or as a sign of respect in the presence of certain people, while doing certain activities, following a death, etc., distinguished by a specialized lexicon.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

Topics: human-sciences, linguistics, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From avoidance + speech.

Across languages

Translations

1 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • German: Vermeidungssprache — mother-in-law language