malapropism
noun /ˈmæləprɒpɪzəm/
/ˈmæləprɑːpɪzəm/
- a mistake somebody makes when they use a word that sounds similar to the word they wanted to use, but means something different and sounds funnyTopics Languagec2Word Originmid 19th cent.: from the name of the character Mrs Malaprop in Sheridan's play The Rivals (1775) + -ism.