**Malapropism** \[mal-uh-PROP-iz-uhm\] (noun)
**Definition:** The erroneous use of a word in place of a similar-sounding one, often with unintentionally amusing or nonsensical results. Malapropisms typically occur when an individual substitutes a word that has a drastically different meaning, leading to a statement that is either humorously incorrect or nonsensical.
**Origin:** The term comes from Mrs. Malaprop, a character in Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s 1775 play “The Rivals.” Mrs. Malaprop is known for her frequent misuse of words, and the word “malapropism” itself derives from the French phrase “mal à propos,” meaning “inappropriate.”