Malapropism

Definitions

1. The blundering use of an absurdly inappropriate word or expression in place of a similar-sounding one.
   uncountable
2. Rare form of malapropism.
   form-of, rare
3. An instance of this; malaprop.
   countable

Equivalents

8 more languages

العربيةإساءة استعمال الألفاظ

Gaeilgemífheilteachas

Gàidhligain-eirmseachd

日本語マラプロピズム言い間違い

한국어말라프로피즘

Nederlandsverhaspeling

Polskimalapropizm

Русскиймалапропи́зм

Examples

“The script employed malapropism to great effect.”

“The translator matched every malapropism in the original with one from his own⟳ language.”

“The humor comes from all the malapropisms.”

“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.”

“That old wound to his pride and self-esteem was not yet closed. He had come⟳ thinking he could talk⟳ of it, even wanting to talk⟳ of his fettered condition, and—behold! he was shrinking away from this reminder by Aunt Juley, renowned for her Malapropisms.”

“But nobody will ever know⟳ the private history of a char. They keep⟳ nearly all their secrets to themselves. For this reason⟳ I am sure that, whatever novelists and dramatists pretend⟳, they are not natural chatterboxes. Not all have⟳ black eyes or drunken husbands who occasionally arrive⟳ for a private quarrel or, in times of hardship for the hero, become⟳ comic brokers’ men. Their Malapropisms are few. They are frequently sturdy, silent, careful, and as dignified as wealthy aunts, who, by the way, are also with as little reason⟳ made ridiculous in some books and plays.”

CEFR level