The label "gifted" has been a source of contention for decades, possibly because it seems to imply a desirable status that is mysteriously granted to some yet remains unavailable to others. Some writers have suggested that the term should be abandoned altogether, though a replacement that retains the same utility for classification purposes and delivery of services remains elusive. We asked 106 parents of gifted learners about their usage of the term "gifted" to learn more about when they perceive the term to be useful and when or why they avoid using it. The majority of respondents reported avoiding the use of the gifted label in conversations with others who were not labelled. Findings suggest that these parents felt they or their children would be judged negatively by others if the parents used the term "gifted", and that in many cases, they used alternate language or (for twice-exceptional children) gave priority to describing their child's disability. Respondents who did choose to use the term framed their decision in terms of a need to educate other parents about giftedness as an important aspect of individual differences.