Noun: litotes 'lI-tu,teez or lI'tow,teez
- 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";
- meiosis
Type of: rhetorical device, understatement
Encyclopedia: Litotes