Entry 1 sense Webster, 1913 malapropism /mălʹə-prä-pĭzʹ-əm/ · mal·a·prop·ism · IPA /ˈmæləpɹɑpˌɪzəm/ 01 n. A grotesque misuse of a word; a word so used. 1. A grotesque misuse of a word; a word so used.