A misuse of words, e.g. the aggravator in the washing machine for the agitator, or a detestable wrench for an adjustable wrench. ( play on words, faux amis) Fay, D. & A.Cutler, 1977. Malapropism and the structure of the mental lexicon. LingI...

n. (also catachresis) An error in which an intended word is replaced by a quite different one of similar sound, such as the use of facilities for faculties, prostrate for prostate or epitaph for epithet, a famous literary example is Dogberry’s...

A malapropism is the incorrect use of a word by substituting a similar-sounding word with different meaning, usually with comic...