Main Entry: mal·a·prop·ism

Pronunciation: \ˈma-lə-ˌprä-ˌpi-zəm\

Function: noun

Etymology: Mrs. Malaprop, character noted for her misuse of words in R. B. Sheridan's comedy The Rivals (1775)

Date: 1849

1 : the usually unintentionally humorous misuse or distortion of a word or phrase; especially : the use of a word sounding somewhat like the one intended but ludicrously wrong in the context
2 : malaprop

— mal·a·prop·ist \-ˌprä-pist\ noun