malapropism Definition
the use of a word that is similar to another word but that has a very different meaning, often resulting in a situation that is intended to be funny.
Using malapropism: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "malapropism" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
She said 'illiterate' instead of 'literate'; it was a malapropism.
Example
He used the word 'prostate' instead of 'prostrate'; it was a malapropism.
Example
The character Mrs. Malaprop in the play 'The Rivals' is known for her malapropisms.
malapropism Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for malapropism
Phrases with malapropism
a humorous feature in which a malapropism is highlighted each day
Example
The radio show's malapropism of the day always makes me laugh.
a competition in which participants try to come up with the funniest malapropism
Example
The comedy club is hosting a malapropism contest next week.
a tool that generates random malapropisms for entertainment purposes
Example
I spent hours laughing at the malapropisms generated by the website's malapropism generator.
Origins of malapropism
from French 'mal à propos', meaning 'inappropriate'
Summary: malapropism in Brief
'Malapropism' [ˈmæl.ə.prɑː.pɪ.zəm] refers to the use of a word that is similar to another word but that has a very different meaning, often resulting in a situation that is intended to be funny. It is often used in comedic contexts, as exemplified by the character Mrs. Malaprop in the play 'The Rivals.' 'Malapropism' extends into phrases like 'malapropism of the day,' and 'malapropism generator,' denoting humorous features and tools for generating malapropisms.
