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Definition of "malapropism" [mal•a•prop•ism]

  • Ludicrous misuse of a word, especially by confusion with one of similar sound. (noun)
  • An example of such misuse. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "malapropism" in a sentence
  • "Did you ever wonder where the word malapropism came from?"
  • "a type of slip of the ear in which people mishear a word and mispronounce it, then insist that the malapropism is correct."
  • "Mr. STARR: It's called a malapropism, John used to say."
Words like "malapropism"