malapropism
Americannoun
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an act or habit of misusing words ridiculously, especially by the confusion of words that are similar in sound.
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an instance of this, as in “Lead the way and we'll precede.”
noun
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the unintentional misuse of a word by confusion with one of similar sound, esp when creating a ridiculous effect, as in I am not under the affluence of alcohol
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the habit of misusing words in this manner
Discover More
Mrs. Malaprop, a character in an eighteenth-century British comedy, The Rivals, by Richard Brinsley Sheridan, constantly confuses words. Malapropisms are named after her.
Other Word Forms
- malaprop adjective
- malapropistic adjective
Etymology
Origin of malapropism
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Needless to say, the malapropism is completely nonsensical — and therefore hilarious.
From Salon • Feb. 28, 2022
At one point, someone makes accidental reference to “quantum psychics,” a malapropism that perfectly describes Kaufman’s own field of expertise.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 3, 2020
“Ironic” is set in a high school writing workshop: One character reads her poetry about “rain on your wedding day” to the class, and her peers pick her apart for the malapropism.
From New York Times • Nov. 26, 2019
It was the malapropism heard around certain corners of social media.
From Washington Post • Jul. 12, 2019
Winnifred, the girl who beat you in the elementary school spelling bee, raises her hand: Ms. Hardwick, wasn’t Nick supposed to present a malapropism to us today? she whines.
From "Booked" by Kwame Alexander
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
