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Vinony

malapropism

noun

  1. use of an incorrect word in place of a word with a similar sound, resulting in a nonsensical, often humorous utterance
L323562 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /ˈmæləpɹɒpˌɪzəm/ / /ˈmæləpɹɑpˌɪzəm/

noun

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.

  1. The blundering use of an absurdly inappropriate word or expression in place of a similar-sounding one.

    “The script employed malapropism to great effect.”

  2. An instance of this; malaprop.

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

    “The humor comes from all the malapropisms.”