paronomasia

noun /pæɹənɵˈmeɪzɪə/

1. A pun or play on words.

   countable, uncountable

   And when I say stern measures, I am indulging in a paronomasia, or play on words! Good night.

   Oh, by the way, any attempt to present me with any kind of testimonial will result in stern measures.

2. The use of puns.

   countable, uncountable

   When words but little varied it includes.

   Paronomasia to the sense alludes,

Where it comes from

From Latin paronomasia, from Ancient Greek παρονομασία (paronomasía, “play upon words which sound alike”), from παρα- (para-) + ὀνομασία (onomasía, “naming”).

Adapted from the Wiktionary entry paronomasia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

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