MALAPROPISM

[ 'maləprɒˌpɪz(ə)m ]

( US also malaprop )

■ noun the mistaken use of a word in place of a similar-sounding one (e.g. ‘dance a flamingo ’ instead of flamenco ).

Origin

C19: from the character Mrs Malaprop in Sheridan's play The Rivals (1775) + -ism .