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malapropism Twit Definition of malapropism Share Definition of malapropism on Facebook Digg:Definition of malapropism! stumble Definition of malapropism Bookmark Definition of malapropism on Delicious submit Definition of malapropism to reddit Bookmark Definition of malapropism
noun 
  1. (uncountable) The blundering use of an absurdly inappropriate word in place of a similar sounding one.
Malapropism is much older as a phenomenon than it is as a word.
Don't engage in .
  1. (countable) An instance of this.
The translator matched every in the original with one from his own language.
The humor comes from all the malapropisms.
Translations: 
  • Spanish: gazapo
Etymology: A reference to Mrs. Malaprop, a character in the play w:The Rivals, The Rivals (1775) by w:Richard Brinsley Sheridan, Richard Brinsley Sheridan. Throughout the play, Mrs. Malaprop uses inappropriate, but like-sounding, words for comic effect. As dramatic characters in English comic plays of this time often had allusive names, it is likely that Sheridan fashioned the name from (term, malapropos) "inappropriate".

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