malaprop

views updated Jun 11 2018

mal·a·prop / ˈmaləˌpräp/ (also mal·a·prop·ism) • n. the mistaken use of a word in place of a similar-sounding one, often with unintentionally amusing effect, as in, for example, “dance a flamingo” (instead of flamenco).

malaprop

views updated May 17 2018

malaprop the mistaken use of a word in place of a similar-sounding one, often with unintentionally amusing effect, as in ‘a nice derangement of epitaphs’. The word comes from the name of Mrs Malaprop in Sheridan's play The Rivals (1775).

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