Definition
According to the Merriam Webster dictionary, Litotes are defined as a, “understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by the negative of the contrary (as in "not a bad singer" or "not unhappy")”
“Litotes.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/litotes. Accessed 29 Aug. 2022.
Informal Definition
A litote is the intentional use of a double negative to create a positive statement. For example, the most common litote is the exclamation, “not bad,” where which instead of saying good, the person says they did the opposite of bad (or good.)
Etymology
Late 16th Century: The word litotēs come from the Greek litos, meaning simple, or from lit-, lis, which mean linen cloth.
“Litotes.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/litotes. Accessed 29 Aug. 2022.
David B