||Li"to*tes (lī"t&osl;*tēz), n. [NL., fr. Gr. lito`ths, from lito`s plain, simple.] (Rhet.) A diminution or softening of statement for the sake of avoiding censure or increasing the effect by contrast with the moderation shown in the form of expression; as, " a citizen of no mean city," that is, of an illustrious city.

• A figure of speech in which the speaker emphasizes the magnitude of a statement by denying its opposite; a figure of speech in which understatement is used with negation to express a positive attribute; a form of irony
       
• She's not the nicest person I know (to indicate meanness)
       
• He's not exactly a rocket scientist (to indicate lack of intelligence)
       
• Organizing these records is no small task