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Definition of malapropism


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mal·a·prop·ism  audio  (ml-prp-zm) KEY  

NOUN:
  1. Ludicrous misuse of a word, especially by confusion with one of similar sound.
  2. An example of such misuse.

ETYMOLOGY:
From malaprop

OTHER FORMS:
mala·propi·an   (-prp-n) KEY  (Adjective)


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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition.
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by the Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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