taboo avoidance

English

Noun

taboo avoidance (uncountable)

1. (linguistics) 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.

See also

• taboo deformation
• speak of the devil