Consult courtesy of Baron: What’s the linguistic term for a word that is being overused and misapplied?
Any linguists here? What do you call a word that has become overused and is being applied too often things that are similar but not the same to the original definition? Like how “mafia” is being applied to any sinister secret society? Or how “terrorist” is being applied to just about anyone who inspires fear in others?
Dilution?
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Best answer:
Answer by Peace
Misnomer.
Answer by Inselstricken
In historical linguistics, when the meaning of a word is widened to include things to which it did not originally apply, that is known as EXTENSION. In the words you have quoted, the meaning has extended in popular speech, to cover a much wider area.
Here’s an older example – the word virtue: in Latin, the word virtus was a male quality vir = man – but now, after many centuries, we can describe men and women as virtuous [if they are...]
you might find it interesting to do some research into semantic change.
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http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=uberhaxornova I completely forgot i still had some TTT footage left lol…
Terrorist Disguised as a Woman
Representation merely by Terrorist Disguised as a Woman
01/23/2003
IDF forces captured a terrorist in the northern part of the Gaza Strip. The terrorist had dressed as a woman in order to enter Israel and execute a terror attack.
What is the linguistic term for abuse and misapplied word in?