malapropism

(redirected from malaprops)
Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Legal.

malapropism

1. 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. the habit of misusing words in this manner

Mentioned in ?

References in periodicals archive ?

While California may be in the lead, it does not hold the patent on political malaprops.

The English tongue licks its wounds: a tangled tongue or a word that should be herded back into its pen can bring the world what it can never really get enough of--a good reason to laugh

She also utilizes arbitrary mechanisms promoted by the French avant-garde Oulipo school and enriches her repertoire with deliberate malaprops and spoonerisms.

Sleeping with the Dictionary. (Reviews)

You start to notice little things that occur around you: accidental puns, malaprops, mixed-up phrases.

To be or naught to be +

That was as close as Ron came to mastering 'Rosicky', while the malaprops proved contagious.

ITV's big yawn did my 'nod' in; Couch Potato

BILL WILL, Washington Newspaper Publishers Association: "Back in the late '70s or early '80s, the Lewiston Morning Tribune in Idaho had a sports copy editor infamous for malaprops.