play-on-words
Humorous language twist
A play-on-words exploits multiple meanings or similar sounds of words for humorous or rhetorical effect.
The term covers puns, double entendres, and other wordplay: The headline "Stalk Market" for a story about celery prices is a play-on-words.
Usually hyphenated, though sometimes written as three separate words.
Wordplay using double meanings
- wordplayVerbal wit techniques
- double-entendreWords with suggestive second meaning
- homophoneIdentically pronounced, differently spelled word
- homonymWord with twin sound
paronomasia · equivoque · quip · witticism · malapropism · spoonerism · portmanteau · ambiguity
Humorous statement seeking laughter
- witClever, inventive humor
- jestHumorous remark or act
- gagMouth restraint or jest
- one-linerBrief standalone joke
zinger · groan · punny · comedic · clever · laugh · rimshot · eye-roll
pun
Wordplay using double meanings
- wordplayVerbal wit techniques
- double-entendreWords with suggestive second meaning
- homophoneIdentically pronounced, differently spelled word
homonym · paronomasia · equivoque · quip · witticism · malapropism · spoonerism · portmanteau · ambiguity · polysemy
joke
Humorous statement seeking laughter
one-liner · zinger · groan · punny · comedic · clever · laugh · rimshot · eye-roll · cheesy
Shakespeare
Elizabethan dramatist and poet
epigram · rhetoric · figurative · allusion · conceit · irony · satire · parody · lampoon · mock
slogan
Memorable promotional phrase
- taglineMemorable branding phrase
- brandCompany's product line name
- advertisingPaid promotional communication
headline · catchphrase · jingle · marketing · campaign · billboard · logo · trademark · naming · copywriting
play-on-wordsplain speech
Unembellished verbal expression
explicit language · straight talk · literalism · plain meaning · denotation
play, plays, played, playing, player, players, playful, playfully, playfulness