What does malapropos mean?
A malapropos is a comic mistake in the use of a word, usually caused by confusing it with a similar-sounding term. The word is associated with humorous dialogue and with the tradition of comic misuse of language, in which a character says something that sounds plausible but is semantically absurd. For example, a person might call a staircase a “star case” or refer to a dangerous individual as a “serial killer” when the intended phrase was different. Although malapropos can refer broadly to an ill-chosen or awkward expression, its usual implication is that the mistake is amusing rather than merely careless. The term is related to the French phrase mal à propos, meaning something like “badly to the purpose,” and gave rise to the related noun malapropism. It is especially useful when discussing humor, speech, verbal mistakes, and the deliberate creation of linguistic comedy.
nounA humorous or comic misuse of a word, especially one that is confused with a similar-sounding word. The term can also refer more broadly to an awkward or inappropriate expression.
- A humorous misuse or mispronunciation of a word, especially through confusion with a similar-sounding word.
"Her speech was full of entertaining malapropisms, such as calling a sofa a “safety chair.”"
"The comedian's malapropos turned “financial situation” into “financial situation” in a hilariously inappropriate context."
"Her novel is memorable for its witty dialogue and its many comic malapropisms."
The usual plural form, referring to individual comic mistakes in language.
"The performers exchanged playful malapropisms throughout the scene."
Malapropos celebrates the moment when a nearly right word slips into a spectacularly wrong one—and somehow sounds even funnier.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does malapropos come from?
The word comes from French mal à propos, literally “badly to the purpose” or “ill-timed,” with the expression anglicized as malapropos. The French phrase combines mal, “bad,” with à propos, “to the point” or “suitable.” Its humorous English sense developed in association with the comic confusion of words that sound alike, and it also gave rise to malapropism and malapropian.
Related word forms
How malapropos is actually used
The word is chiefly literary or humorous and is generally used for conspicuous verbal mistakes that create amusement. It is less often used for ordinary spelling or pronunciation errors.
Easily confused with malapropos
A malapropism is the mistaken expression or misused word itself, whereas a malapropos more generally denotes the comic habit or phenomenon of making such mistakes.