Ruin of Memphis underlying European Union’s inoffensive wording (9)
I believe the answer is:
euphemism
'inoffensive wording' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both related to communication as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'ruin of memphis underlying european union's' is the wordplay.
'ruin of' indicates an anagram.
'underlying' says to put letters next to each other (in a down clue, some letters lie under others).
'european union' becomes 'eu'.
'memphis' with letters rearranged gives 'phemism'.
'phemism' after 'eu' is 'EUPHEMISM'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for euphemism that I've seen before include "Indirect expression used in place of an offensive one" , "Milder substitute word" , "Inoffensive term used in place of one considered offensive" , "polite term" , "Inoffensive expression substituted for one that may be offensive" .)