Definition of Malapropism

1. Noun. The unintentional misuse of a word by confusion with one that sounds similar.

Exact synonyms: Malaprop
Generic synonyms: Misstatement

Definition of Malapropism

1. n. A grotesque misuse of a word; a word so used.

Definition of Malapropism

1. Noun. The blundering use of an absurdly inappropriate word or expression in place of a similar sounding one. ¹

2. Noun. An instance of this; malaprop. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Malapropism

1. [n -S]

Lexicographical Neighbors of Malapropism

malanggans
malanite
malapert
malapertly
malapertness
malapertnesses
malaperts
malaphor
malaphors
malapplied
malapportioned
malapportionment
malaprop
malapropian
malapropic
malapropism (current term)
malapropisms
malapropist
malapropistic
malapropists
malapropos
malaprops
malapterurid
malapterurids
malapterurus
malar
malar arch
malar bone
malar flush
malar fold

Literary usage of Malapropism

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of English Usage by Inc. Merriam-Webster (1994)
"malapropism is much older as a phenomenon than it is as a word. ... Jespersen and Bolinger 1980 discuss the causes of malapropism. Bolinger identifies it as ..."

2. The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare (1916)
"4. agitation, a " malapropism " for " cogitation." 25. one by another, means either " one in competition with another," or " taking one with another, ..."

3. She Stoops to Conquer, Or, The Mistakes of a Night: A Comedy by Oliver Goldsmith, Joseph Malaby Dent (1900)
"... a popular malapropism for '" harpischord," found in a letter written by Gray to Chute in 1746. De Wilde's portrait of Quick in this scene represents ..."

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