A figure of speech in which a negative statement is used to affirm a positive statement?

If you've ever heard someone say "not bad" when they really mean "good," you've met this figure of speech. The term for this rhetorical device is litotes.

What is litotes?

Litotes is a way of expressing a positive idea by negating its opposite. Instead of saying something directly"That was excellent"you might say, "That was not terrible." The wording is technically negative, but the intention and meaning are positive. It's often used for understatement, modesty, or to soften praise.

Simple examples

• "Not bad" = pretty good.
• "She's not unhappy" = she's happy (but perhaps not exuberant).
• "He's no fool" = he's clever or wise.
• "I won't deny it" = I admit it.

How litotes works and why people use it

Litotes creates emphasis by understatement. Saying less than you mean can make the actual meaning stronger or more polite. In conversation it can:

• Sound modest or humble (e.g., "I'm not bad at this" instead of "I'm great").
• Soften criticism or praise so it feels less confrontational.
• Add subtlety or ironydepending on tone and context.

Origins and a quick linguistic note

The word comes from Greek (litots), meaning simplicity or restraint. Unlike a plain double negative (which can be confusing or ungrammatical in some languages), litotes intentionally uses negation to strengthen the positive sense.

Litotes versus similar devices

• Irony: Irony often means the opposite of what is said, while litotes actually affirms the positive by denying its opposite.
• Hyperbole: Hyperbole exaggerates; litotes understates.
• Double negative: A double negative can cancel out and create a positive in grammar, but litotes is a deliberate stylistic choice aiming for understatement rather than mere grammatical effect.

Everyday uses

People use litotes all the timeon social media, in casual speech, in literature, and in formal writing when a milder tone is preferred. It can be an elegant way to give praise, deliver criticism gently, or add a touch of dry humor.

How to spot or craft litotes

1. Look for a negative word (not, no, never, nothing) that stands in front of a word or idea thats actually being affirmed.
2. Ask whether the speaker likely meant the literal negative or the opposite. If context points to the opposite, it's probably litotes.
3. To craft one, take the positive idea you want to express and negate its oppositee.g., instead of "It's amazing," try "It's not unimpressive."

Quick wrap-up

So the answer is: the figure of speech is called litotes. It's a neat, understated way to say something positive by denying the negativeand it appears everywhere in everyday speech and writing.