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A '''Malapropism''' is the accidental misuse of a word, usually due to confusion with a linguistically similar word. Oftentimes, the use of a malapropism is quite humorous. The term derives from a character, "Mrs. Malaprop," in the 1775 play "The Rivals" by [[Richard Brinsley Sheridan]].
A '''Malapropism''' is the accidental misuse of a word, usually due to confusion with a linguistically similar word. Oftentimes, the use of a malapropism is quite humorous. The term derives from a character, "Mrs. Malaprop," in the 1775 play "The Rivals" by [[Richard Brinsley Sheridan]].
An example of a malaprop would be referring to an "arduous romance" instead of an "ardent romance" or a "mute point" instead of a "moot point."
Often the humor is derived from the scatological or suggestive nature of the malapropism such as in the following:
* stimulated snakeskin shoes (simulated snakeskin shoes)
* erotic 15 inch houseplant (exotic 15 inch houseplant)