antiphrasis

[an-tif-ruh-sis]

noun

Rhetoric.

1. the use of a word in a sense opposite to its proper meaning.

antiphrasis

/ ænˈtɪfrəsɪs /

noun

1. rhetoric the use of a word in a sense opposite to its normal one, esp for ironic effect

Other Word Forms

• antiphrastic adjective
• antiphrastical adjective
• antiphrastically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of antiphrasis¹

1525–35; < Latin < Greek, derivative of antiphrázein to speak the opposite ( anti- anti- + phrázein to speak); phrase, sis

Word History and Origins

Origin of antiphrasis¹

C16: via Late Latin from Greek, from _anti- + phrasis, from phrazein to speak