What concept refers to suggesting something is less significant than it actually is?

The concept that refers to suggesting something is less significant than it actually is, is known as understatement. This rhetorical device intentionally downplays a situation or quality to create a contrasting effect, often used for humor, irony, or to emphasize the reality of a situation by minimizing its apparent importance. For instance, saying, “It’s just a scratch,” when referring to a large dent in a car can provide a humorous or ironic perspective on the damage.

While exaggeration, overstatement, and minimization might seem similar at first glance, they do not accurately capture the essence of this particular concept. Exaggeration and overstatement refer to inflating the importance or magnitude of something, whereas minimization can imply reducing something without the nuanced impact of irony or humor present in understatement. Thus, understatement is the precise term for suggesting something is less significant than it truly is.