catachresis

C3A1T1A1C3H4R1E1S1I1S1
UK/ˌkæt.əˈkɹiː.sɪs/

noun

A misuse of a word; an application of a term to something which it does not properly denote.

“Near-synonym: malapropism (precisely hyponymous, in which sense only absurd and laughable catachreses are malapropisms)”

Similar
malapropism[Appendix:Glossaryabusio
OriginLatin catachrēsis ← Ancient Greek κατάχρησις →
Scrabble 18
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Meanings

nouncatachresis (countable and uncountable, plural catachreses)

plural catachreses · alternative obsolete catechresis · alternative obsolete katachresis

  1. Either of two types of misuse of a word or misapplication of a concept.
    1. countableuncountableA misuse of a word; an application of a term to something which it does not properly denote.
    2. countableespeciallyoftenuncountableSuch a misuse involving some similarity of sound between the misused word and the appropriate word.

      Near-synonym: malapropism (precisely hyponymous, in which sense only absurd and laughable catachreses are malapropisms)

      Synonyms: malapropism[Appendix:Glossary

    3. countablerhetoricuncountableA misapplication or overextension of a figurative or analogical description; a wrongly applied metaphor or trope.

      A Catachresis terms abused receives, And epithets and attributes improper gives.

      1835, L[arret] Langley, “[The Seven Tropes.] Catachresis.”, in A Manual of the Figures of Rhetoric, […], Doncaster, South Yorkshire: […] C. White, […], →OCLC, page 14

      Synonyms: abusio

Synonyms & antonyms

nounSuch a misuse involving some similarity of sound between the misused word and the appropriate word.

Similar
malapropism[Appendix:Glossary

nounA misapplication or overextension of a figurative or analogical description; a wrongly applied metaphor or trope.

Similar
abusio

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekκατάχρησις“misuse (of a word)”
  2. Latincatachrēsis
  3. Englishcatachresis

Learned borrowing from Latin catachrēsis, borrowed from Ancient Greek κατάχρησις (katákhrēsis, “misuse (of a word)”).

More words from Latin, Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan catacresi
  • catacresimisuse of a word
Chinese Mandarin 訛轉 /讹转
  • 訛轉 /讹转 (ézhuǎn)misuse of a word
Esperanto katakrezo
  • katakrezomisuse of a word
Finnish katakreesi, (sanan) väärä käyttö
  • katakreesi(rhetoric) bad metaphor or trope
  • (sanan) väärä käyttömisuse of a word
French catachrèse, catachrèse
  • catachrèse(rhetoric) bad metaphor or trope
  • catachrèsemisuse of a word
German Katachrese
  • Katachrese(rhetoric) bad metaphor or trope
Italian catacresi
  • catacresi(rhetoric) bad metaphor or trope
Japanese 濫喩
  • 濫喩 (ranyu)misuse of a word
Latin catachresis
  • catachresismisuse of a word
Norwegian katakrese
  • katakresemisuse of a word
Polish katachreza, katachreza
  • katachreza(rhetoric) bad metaphor or trope
  • katachrezamisuse of a word
Portuguese catacrese, catacrese
  • catacrese(rhetoric) bad metaphor or trope
  • catacresemisuse of a word
Russian катахре́за, катахре́за
  • катахре́за (kataxréza)(rhetoric) bad metaphor or trope
  • катахре́за (kataxréza)misuse of a word
Spanish catacresis, impropiedad léxica
  • catacresis(rhetoric) bad metaphor or trope
  • impropiedad léxicamisuse of a word
Swedish katakres
  • katakresmisuse of a word
Cite this entry
APA

catachresis. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/catachresis

MLA

“catachresis.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/catachresis. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “catachresis,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/catachresis.

Source: catachresis on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.