malapropism
The blundering use of an absurdly inappropriate word or expression in place of a…The blundering use of an absurdly inappropriate word or expression in place of a similar-sounding one.
Meaning
2 senses(uncountable)The blundering use of an absurdly inappropriate word or expression in place of a similar-sounding one.
The script employed malapropism to great effect.
Wörtervertauschung, Wortverwechslung, Verballhornung
малапропи́змmalapropízm
the unintentional misuse of a word by confusion with one that sounds similar
(countable)An instance of such use.
The translator matched every malapropism in the original with one from his own language.
The humor comes from all the malapropisms.
Examples
1 sentencesTom is known for his hilarious malapropisms.
Translations
5 languagesBy meaning 1
By meaning 1
Origin
From the name of Mrs. Malaprop, a character in the play The Rivals (1775) by Richard BrinsFrom the name of Mrs. Malaprop, a character in the play The Rivals (1775) by Richard Brinsley Sheridan + -ism. As dramatic characters in English comic plays of this time often had allusive names, it is likely that Sheridan fashioned the name from malapropos (“inappropriate; inappropriately”), from French mal à propos. Mrs. Malaprop is a classic example of a familiar comedic character archetype who unintentionally substitutes inappropriate but like-sounding words that take on a ludicrous meaning when used incorrectly.
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Forms
plural: malapropismsSynonyms
1 synonymsWord family
9 related wordsLessons for this word
1 lessons- A1Countable and uncountable nouns — Because it can be uncountable