What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
pockmanteau
Example
The term 'mansplaining' is an example of a pockmanteau, combining 'man' and 'explaining' to create a word that implies condescension and sexism. [pockmanteau: noun]
Example
The word 'craptacular' is a pockmanteau that combines 'crap' and 'spectacular' to create a term that is considered vulgar and inappropriate. [pockmanteau: adjective]
portmanteau
Example
The term 'brunch' is an example of a portmanteau, combining 'breakfast' and 'lunch' to create a new word that describes a meal eaten in the late morning. [portmanteau: noun]
Example
The word 'smog' is a portmanteau that combines 'smoke' and 'fog' to describe a type of air pollution. [portmanteau: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Portmanteau is much more commonly used than pockmanteau in everyday language. Portmanteau is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while pockmanteau is less common and typically used in informal or humorous contexts.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between pockmanteau and portmanteau?
While portmanteau is versatile and can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts, pockmanteau is typically associated with a casual and informal tone and is not appropriate for formal situations.
