paronomasia

Definitions

1. A pun or play on words.
   countable, rhetoric, uncountable
2. The use of puns.
   countable, rhetoric, uncountable

Equivalents

Examples

“Oh, by the way, any attempt⟳ to present⟳ me with any kind of testimonial will result⟳ in stern measures. And when I say⟳ stern measures, I am indulging in a paronomasia, or play⟳ on words! Good night.”

“Ev’rywhere but at Norfolk, where talk⟳ of Passion far outweighs its Enactment,– indeed, the Sailors’ paronomasia for that wretched Place⟳, is ‘No-Fuck’.”

“Paronomasia to the sense⟳ alludes, When words but little varied it includes.”

“[…] he gloomily regarded his new digital watch⟳, faintly fascinated by the onward march⟳ of the square figures which turned one into the other with insolent ease, a kind of numerical paronomasia.”

CEFR level