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.
In one of the funnier exchanges between him and Roy, Jamie delightfully defies expectations by rattling off the correct definition of a term often applied to him in response to a malapropism.
From Salon • Mar. 15, 2023
He appraises himself as a man of limited vocabulary and occasional malapropism.
From New York Times • Feb. 20, 2023
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
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.
