Malapropism (Noun)
Meaning
The unintentional misuse of a word by confusion with one that sounds similar.
Classification
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents.
Examples
- The politician's malapropism during the speech, where she said "old-timers' disease" instead of "Alzheimer's disease," left the audience in stitches.
- He was known for his malapropisms, often using words like "ex-specially" instead of "especially" in formal presentations.
- The teacher gently corrected the student's malapropism, explaining that the correct phrase was "for all intents and purposes," not "for all intensive purposes."
- The comedian's routine relied heavily on malapropisms, using phrases like "he's a wolf in cheap clothing" to poke fun at common mistakes.
- The character's malapropisms, such as saying "the doctor gave me a proscription" instead of "prescription," added to the comedic relief in the play.