What's the difference between statement and understatement?

Statement


Definition:

  • (n.) The act of stating, reciting, or presenting, orally or in paper; as, to interrupt a speaker in the statement of his case.
  • (n.) That which is stated; a formal embodiment in language of facts or opinions; a narrative; a recital.

Example Sentences:

  • (1) Unfortunately, due to confidentiality clauses that have been imposed on us by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection, we are unable to provide our full names and … titles … However, we believe the evidence that will be submitted will validate the statements that we are making in this submission.” The submission detailed specific allegations – including names and dates – of sexual abuse of child detainees, violence and bullying of children, suicide attempts by children and medical neglect.
  • (2) Of course the job is not done and we will continue to remain vigilant to all risks, particularly when the global economic situation is so uncertain,” the chancellor said in a statement.
  • (3) A statement from the company said it had assigned all its assets for the benefit of creditors, in accordance with Massachusetts' law.
  • (4) As May delivered her statement in the chamber, police helicopters hovered overhead and a police cordon remained in place around Westminster, but MPs from across the political spectrum were determined to show that they were continuing with business as usual.
  • (5) So too his statement that "in Zulu culture you cannot leave a woman if she is ready.
  • (6) We are pleased to see the process moving forward and look forward to its resolution,” a Target spokeswoman, Molly Snyder, said in an emailed statement.
  • (7) 12pm, Channel 4 press office: "I refer you to the statement put out last night."
  • (8) In conjunction with the development of a computerized goal-oriented record system at Forest Hospital Des Plaines, Illinois, research staff developed a psychiatric goal list from goal statements most frequently used at the hospital.
  • (9) Local and international media and watchdog organisations such as the World Association of Newspapers , Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters Without Borders have issued statements strongly condemning the prison sentence.
  • (10) Whilst we deeply regret all these incidents and acknowledge that the care of these patients could have been better, this is a relatively low number of incidents for a hospital of this size,” it said in a statement.
  • (11) In a statement the Los Angeles County department of public health said: "Though legionella bacteria was identified in a water sample taken from the Playboy Mansion, this bacteria has not been determined as the source of the respiratory outbreak.
  • (12) In a statement, a St James's Palace spokesman said: "The Duchess of Cambridge has been discharged from the King Edward VII hospital and will now head to Kensington Palace for a period of rest.
  • (13) Pressure test and impact test are leading to different strength statements.
  • (14) • Written, oral and video statements of self-incrimination and self-renunciation by the detainees, apparently induced by the authorities, have been released through official media channels (for example, lawyer Zhang Kai was induced to make such a statement, which he later retracted).
  • (15) However, financial markets seem unconcerned: 10-year gilts have rallied since the statement.
  • (16) A statement from the club read: "Everybody at Sheffield United is extremely shocked and saddened to learn of the death of former player and manager Gary Speed.
  • (17) I suppose he’ll have to go to QPR.” Lampard released a statement confirming his departure from Chelsea that read: “When I arrived at this fantastic club 13 years ago I would never have believed that I would be fortunate enough to play so many games and enjoy sharing in so much success.
  • (18) The report says this tactic has helped the west uncover at least one of Iran's secret nuclear sites and, according to official statements by the Iranians, has caused enrichment centrifuges to break.
  • (19) Their only clues were two statements involving contrasting mental terms, with each statement referring to one of the possible hiding places.
  • (20) According to Israeli media reports, the US statement had caused "senior officials in Jerusalem to tear out their hair".

Understatement


Definition:

  • (n.) The act of understating, or the condition of being understated; that which is understated; a statement below the truth.

Example Sentences:

  • (1) RBS chief executive Ross McEwan apologised to consumers: “To say I’m angry would be an understatement.
  • (2) To say that the loss of BB King is devastating to the blues community is an understatement.
  • (3) With understatement, he added: "I don't feel comfortable."
  • (4) Heaton’s recollections are heavy on understatement.
  • (5) Since that strangely undeserved result in Madrid last November, PSG have gone on a run that makes convincing seem like an understatement.
  • (6) With some understatement, Thompson said: "We've weathered a series of lively storms and been through some trying as well as some very successful times together.
  • (7) In light of the opening episode, that seems like an understatement.
  • (8) That the act outraged public decency is an understatement.
  • (9) Unfortunately, we had to lower the number of people,” he says, in something of an understatement, adding that he used redeployment and natural turnover as much as possible.
  • (10) He starts by discussing the economic climate – saying that eurozone economic growth remains "weak" (an understatement), with fears over the crisis weighing on confidence and sentiment.
  • (11) Furthermore, perhaps calling Corbyn a “harsh critic” is an understatement in light of some of his statements.
  • (12) Courtesy the estate of Richard Hamilton That Hamilton was anti-capitalist is an understatement.
  • (13) That is an understatement because the expectations were high.
  • (14) To say that the 170-year history of the Co-op Group is complicated would be a howling understatement.
  • (15) Late-night tales: how a new crop of TV hosts is reinventing an old format Read more First, to say it’s a “hit” is an understatement – it’s a phenomenon.
  • (16) And to say Fifa has been dismayed by this burst of democratic dissent is an understatement.
  • (17) It will be difficult to keep them all happy.” That might be the understatement of the year.
  • (18) Volunteer complaints panel To say the public has little faith in the Independent Police Complaints Commission would be an understatement.
  • (19) With the organisation reeling from a string of corruption allegations against 10 of the 24-man executive committee, Jérôme Valcke , Fifa's secretary general, admitted with grim understatement that Fifa's reputation is: "Not at its highest."
  • (20) Fits like a brick To say that it is unclear quite how Beats and Apple would fit is be an understatement.