eggcorn

American  

[eg-kawrn] / ˈɛgˌkɔrn /

1. a word or phrase that is a seemingly logical alteration of another word or phrase that sounds similar and has been misheard or misinterpreted, as 'old wise tale' for 'old wives' tale'.

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Etymology

Origin of eggcorn

With reference to a mishearing or misinterpretation of the word acorn

Explanation

An eggcorn is a word or phrase that isn't quite correct, although it sounds just about right. When someone asks for "coldslaw" at a restaurant, they're using an eggcorn — what they meant to order was "coleslaw." If you've wondered why your grandpa always grouses about it being a "doggy dog world," you've experienced an eggcorn first hand. The actual phrase, "it's a dog-eat-dog world," is frequently misunderstood in this way. Other common eggcorns are "old-timer's disease" instead of "Alzheimer's" and "pass mustard" in lieu of "pass muster." Eggcorn was coined in 2003 by a linguistics professor, named after the made-up word some people use when they intend to say acorn.

Example Sentences

Though it's unclear when its eggcorn, take for granite, first appeared, it's pretty clear why some people think it makes sense.

From Salon • Feb. 28, 2022

Those are eggcorns, a term coined by linguist Geoff Pullum in 2003 as a nod to people's long-running habit of mistaking the word acorn for eggcorn.

From Salon • Feb. 28, 2022

In a 2005 posting on Language Log, a blog operated by the University of Pennsylvania, the linguist Mark Liberman wrote that “untracked” appeared to be an eggcorn for “on track.”

From New York Times • Dec. 19, 2015

When another think coming becomes another thing coming, that’s an eggcorn.

From Time • May 30, 2015

Did Bruni just drop an eggcorn in America’s journal of record?

From The Guardian • Sep. 16, 2014