1N-COUNT (事先约定的)代号,暗号 A code word is a word or phrase that has a special meaning, different from its normal meaning, for the people who have agreed to use it in this way. (事先约定的)代号,暗号
...magnum, the code word for launching a radar attack. [+ for]
发起雷达攻击的暗号“大酒瓶”
2N-COUNT [usu Nfor n](尤指公众人物为避免某个词汇而使用的)代名词 A code word is a word or phrase that someone, especially a public figure, uses in order to avoid saying something else. (尤指公众人物为避免某个词汇而使用的)代名词
I think nationalism is just a code word for racism.
我认为民族主义不过是种族主义的代名词。
'Tired and emotional' is a code word for being drunk.