malapropism
noun/ˈmæləprɒpɪzəm/
/ˈmæləprɑːpɪzəm/
- a mistake somebody makes when they use a word that sounds similar to the word they wanted to use, but means something different and sounds funnyTopics Languagec2Word Originmid 19th cent.: from the name of the character Mrs Malaprop in Sheridan's play The Rivals (1775) + -ism.
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malapropism