oxymoron

Meaning

Noun

• A figure of speech in which two words or phrases with opposing meanings are used together intentionally for effect.
• A contradiction in terms.

Related

Opposite words

• pleonasm, redundancy

Origin

• First attested in the 17th century, noun use of 5th century Latin oxymōrum, neut. nom. form of oxymōrus, from Ancient Greek ὀξύμωρος, compound of ὀξύς (English oxy-, as in oxygen) + μωρός (English moron). Literally "sharp-dull", "keen-stupid", or "pointed-foolish" – itself an oxymoron, hence autological; compare sophomore, influenced by similar analysis. The compound form ὀξύμωρον is not found in the extant Ancient Greek sources.