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Webster 1913 Edition

malapropism

mal′a-prop-ism

,
Noun.
[From
Mrs.
Malaprop
, a character in
Sheridan’s
drama, “ The Rivals,” who makes amusing blunders in her use of words. See
Malapropos
.]
A grotesque misuse of a word; a word so used.

Definition 2024

malapropism

malapropism

English

Noun

malapropism ‎(plural malapropisms)

  1. (uncountable) 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. (countable) 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.

Synonyms

Translations

See also

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”). 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.

Pronunciation

  • (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈmæləprɒpɪzəm/
  • (US) enPR: mălʹə-prä-pĭz-əm, IPA(key): /ˈmæləprɑːpɪzəm/

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