Malapropism
Literary term · say it MAL-uh-prop-iz-um
A malapropism is the mistaken use of one word in place of another that sounds similar, often with a funny result. In literature, the mistake can reveal a character’s confusion, pride, or wish to sound learned.
Two ways malapropism appears
Trying to sound learned
A character reaches for an impressive word but chooses a similar-sounding word with the wrong meaning. The mistake undercuts the character’s claim to knowledge.
In The Rivals, Mrs. Malaprop describes Lydia’s stubbornness by comparing her to an alligator, but substitutes the word for a symbolic story for the animal’s name. Her confident mistake exposes her shaky command of vocabulary.
In The Rivals by Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Trying to sound official
A character uses the language of law or authority incorrectly. The serious manner makes the mistaken words especially noticeable.
In Much Ado About Nothing, Dogberry reports the arrest of suspects to Leonato but muddles the words for taking them into custody and describing them as suspicious. His report makes an important discovery sound absurd.
In Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare
How to spot malapropism
- Look for a word whose meaning does not fit the situation.
- Think of a similar-sounding word that would make sense.
- Notice what the mistake reveals about the speaker.
What is the difference between a malapropism and a pun?
A malapropism is a mistaken word choice, while a pun plays on different meanings or similar sounds. A character usually does not recognize a malapropism as a mistake; a pun usually invites the listener to notice the wordplay.
Where does the word malapropism come from?
The term comes from Mrs. Malaprop, a character in Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s play The Rivals, first performed in 1775. She repeatedly confuses similar-sounding words while trying to speak impressively. Her name draws on a French expression meaning inappropriate or out of place.
Related terms
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