Agree with PayrolGuy that to the average HR person, PIP means that you were on a last chance agreement to improve your performance. Maybe in your company that was an acronym for something else, but during my hiring days if someone told me they were on a PIP, I'd take it that they were a poor worker who lost their job because of their own job performance.
Are you perhaps referring to what most of the HR world would refer to as an RIF - Reduction in Force? If so, then I suspect the problem is not with what the employer is saying. Stop telling employers that you were PIP'd and see if the response changes.
Unless, of course, you actually were on a Performance Improvement Plan. In which case the employer will (legally) say so anyway.

