play mrs malaprop
Up Next
Title
CANCEL
mrs malaprop
Words at Play

What is a malaprop?

Editor Peter Sokolowski will tell you all the perpendiculars

A malapropism, or malaprop, is 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 context—like polo bears instead of polar bears.

Up next

play mrs malaprop
What is a malaprop?

 

We'll tell you all the perpendiculars

play video healthy vs healthful
Healthy vs. Healthful

 

Why both words are equally good for you.

play image1815466723
How Do You Pronounce 'Vase'?

 

And is one way more correct than the others?

play merriam-webster eggcorns title page
What Is an Eggcorn?

 

And how did it get that name?

play how to use a dictionary
How to Use a Dictionary

 

The best way to find information in the dictionary

play video its vs its
Its vs. It's

 

Some practical guidance, and interesting history, about a common mistake.

play contractions
On Contractions of Multiple Words

 

You all would not have guessed some of these

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
alt-633b10471e2d4
Name That Thing MegaQuiz: Vol. 2 Test your visual vocabulary!
See All