malapropism

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mal·a·prop·ism

(măl′ə-prŏp-ĭz′əm)

1. Ludicrous misuse of a word, especially by confusion with one of similar sound.

2. An example of such misuse.

mal′a·prop′i·an (-prŏp′ē-ən) adj.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

malapropism

(ˈmæləprɒpˌɪzəm)

1. (Literary & Literary Critical Terms) 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

2. (Literary & Literary Critical Terms) the habit of misusing words in this manner

[C18: after Mrs Malaprop in Sheridan's play The Rivals (1775), a character who misused words, from malapropos]

ˈmalaprop, ˌmalaˈpropian adj

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

mal•a•prop•ism

(ˈmæl ə prɒpˌɪz əm)

n.

1. a confused use of words in which an appropriate word is replaced by one with similar sound but ludicrously inappropriate meaning.

2. an instance of this, as in “Lead the way and we'll precede.”

[1840–50; after Mrs. Malaprop, a character in Sheridan's The Rivals (1775)]

malapropism

1. the unconscious use of an inappropriate word, especially in a cliché, as fender for feather in “You could have knocked me over with a fender.” [Named after Mrs. Malaprop, a character prone to such uses, in The Rivals, by Richard Brinsley Sheridan]
2. an instance of such misuse. Cf. heterophemism.

malapropism

Unintentional use of a wrong word for one that it sounds like.

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Noun

malapropism - the unintentional misuse of a word by confusion with one that sounds similar

malaprop

misstatement - a statement that contains a mistake

Translations

Verballhornung

perronisme

strafalcione

malapropism

[ˈmæləprɒpɪzəm] N → lapsus m inv linguae, equivocación f de palabras

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

malapropism

n → Malapropismus m

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

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References in periodicals archive ?

In addition, the text lacks subtlety--including much telling rather than showing--and features multiple malapropisms. Horus is unlikeable at the start and didactic at the last.

Anastasia, P.: Exile of the Sky God

Lancashire lass Hylda began her career in the music halls and her comedy creations were famous for their malapropisms as they got words hopelessly mixed up.

THE REAL-LIFE PIONEERS OF FEMALE COMEDY

Later chapters cover uses and forms of language in the play, rhetorical strategies, humor, malapropisms, imagery, prose, and verse.

Much Ado About Nothing: Language and Writing

So there's plenty here about riddles, puns, creating words from merging other words, meanings, derivations, malapropisms, word play and so on.

Rennie, Susan (compiler): Oxford Roald Dahl Dictionary

One doctor said the Malapropisms were caused by "a rush of Scouse to the head".

Echos of the past

New York -- Yogi Berra, the Hall of Fame catcher renowned as much for his dizzying malapropisms as his record 10 World Series championships with the New York Yankees, has died.

Yankees legend Yogi Berra dies

Comedy malapropisms - characters confusing Terry Dean with James Parallels could be drawn between their lot and that of their characters in Byrne's play, aching for a step up from their first-rung jobs mixing paint in carpet factory.

Laughs to be had but at the expense of drama; 18.02.15 The Slab BoysCitizens Theatre, Glasgow

"[The] BJMP's legal gobbledygook and malapropisms of international law are pretentious cover to deny or restrict entry and access of legitimate doctors, counsel on record and regular visitors to political prisoners on hunger strike.

BJMP isolating political detainees, lawyers claim

He's a poet-critic, folding his philosophy into triumphant malapropisms. [Greg Gerke]

Gabriel Blackwell. Critique of Pure Reason

Katherine gained near-celebrity status for her malapropisms ala Yogi Berra.

Katherine M. (Anas) Nadeau, 89

Many of the laughs originate from malapropisms and Butterfly's haphazard English, but her writing also provides a social commentary on the problems facing the country.