What does "malapropism" mean?
The blundering use of an absurdly inappropriate word or expression in place of a similar-sounding one.
Malapropism
/ˈmæləpɹɒpˌɪzəm/ noun
noun ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The blundering use of an absurdly inappropriate word or expression in place of a similar-sounding one.
- Grammar: malapropism is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: abuse of terms, acrostic, alliteration, allusion.
- Useful contrasts: accuracy, correctness, precision.
- Usage evidence: The script employed malapropism to great effect.
How to use "malapropism"
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- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "malapropism" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
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- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "malapropism" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
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Compare nearby meanings
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "malapropism" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
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3. Confirm with context
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Final meaning check
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Definitions
Noun
- 1 The blundering use of an absurdly inappropriate word or expression in place of a similar-sounding one. uncountable
"The script employed malapropism to great effect."
- 2 Rare form of malapropism. form-of, rare
"M. Jules Lemaître has reproached Shakespeare for his love of Malapropisms. Those of Dogberry and many of his other low comedy parts are highly diverting buffoonery."
- 3 the unintentional misuse of a word by confusion with one that sounds similar wordnet
- 4 An instance of this; malaprop. countable
"The translator matched every malapropism in the original with one from his own language."
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"The script employed malapropism to great effect."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "malapropism"?
Common synonyms include: abuse of terms, acrostic, alliteration, allusion, amphibologism, amphiboly.
How do you use "malapropism" in a sentence?
The script employed malapropism to great effect.
How do you pronounce "malapropism"?
Pronounced /ˈmæləpɹɒpˌɪzəm/.
Etymology
From 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 perhaps the best-known example of a familiar comedic character archetype who unintentionally substitutes inappropriate but like-sounding words that take on a ludicrous meaning when used incorrectly.