taboo avoidance

noun

The replacement of a word or phrase with another by way of euphemism to avoid a cultural taboo (e.g. because the older word has become vulgar, or due to the belief that mentioning a dangerous creature's name may cause that creature to appear).

“It is believed that Slavic *medvědь (“bear”, literally “honey-eater”) replaced an earlier word because of taboo avoidance.”

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Meanings

nountaboo avoidance (countable and uncountable, plural taboo avoidances)

plural taboo avoidances

  1. countableuncountablehuman sciencesThe replacement of a word or phrase with another by way of euphemism to avoid a cultural taboo (e.g. because the older word has become vulgar, or due to the belief that mentioning a dangerous creature's name may cause that creature to appear).

    It is believed that Slavic *medvědь (“bear”, literally “honey-eater”) replaced an earlier word because of taboo avoidance.

Cite this entry
APA

taboo avoidance. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/taboo%20avoidance

MLA

“taboo avoidance.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/taboo%20avoidance. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “taboo avoidance,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/taboo%20avoidance.

Source: taboo avoidance on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.