Euphemism
Etymology
From Greek euphēmismós, from eu ("good, well") + phḗmē ("speech, saying"). Originally it meant "auspicious speech" — using favorable words to avoid uttering ill-omened ones during rituals. That superstition about naming bad things faded, but the habit of reaching for a gentler substitute is exactly what the word still names.
noun · /YOO-fuh-miz-um/
A mild or indirect expression substituted for one considered harsh, blunt, or taboo.
What it names
The social lubricant of "passed away," "let go," and "restructuring" — softening what is unpleasant, and sometimes quietly obscuring it.
Example
The memo drowned the layoffs in euphemism, calling them "a right-sizing of the talent portfolio."
Related idea
Dysphemism is the deliberate opposite — swapping in a harsher word than needed; euphemism softens, dysphemism sharpens.