oxymoron
noun /ˌɒksɪˈmɔːrɒn/
/ˌɑːksɪˈmɔːrɑːn/
(specialist)- a phrase that combines two words that seem to be the opposite of each other, for example a deafening silenceTopics Languagec2Word Originmid 17th cent.: from Greek oxumōron, neuter (used as a noun) of oxumōros ‘pointedly foolish’, from oxus ‘sharp’ + mōros ‘foolish’.