Pronounced: veh-LEE-uh-tee, noun
Notes: I didn’t know this word, but it is a word I could use
Yesterday’s word
The word heterophemy is “the use of a word different than the one intended”
First usage
Our word came into English in the late 1800s
Background / Comments
Some people have this habit of accidentally using the wrong word; some people consider it a sign of old age and forgetfulness, but I’ve known even young people who confused words. Our word came from the Greek words hetero- (different) and pheme (speaking).
Richard's Vocabulary Word-of-the-Day 