Figure Name antiphrasis
Source Silva Rhetoricae (; Quintilian 9.2.47-48; Bede 615-16; Susenbrotus (1540) 12, 16-17; Sherry (1550) 46 ("antiphrasis," "dictio contrarium significans"); Peacham (1577) C4v; Putt. (1589) 201 ("antiphrasis," "the broad floute"); Day 1599 80 ; JG Smith (1665) ("antiphrasis"); Holmes (1806) ("antiphrasis"); Macbeth (1876); Bullinger (1898) ("antiphrasis; or, permutation: i.e., A New Name for the Old Thing")
Earliest Source None
Synonyms paralipsis, dictio contrarium, significans, the broad floute, permutation, a new name for the old thing, permutatio
Etymology from Gk. antiphrazein, “to express by antithesis or negation”
Type Chroma
Linguistic Domain Lexicographic

Rhetfig: The ironic use of a word that directly opposes the nature of the thing described in order to direct attention to the nature described. For example: Using the nickname "slim" for an overweight person.

1. Irony of one word, often derisively through patent contradiction. (Silva Rhetoricae)

2. Antiphrasis, a word or speech to be understood by the contrary.; Antiphrasis, Sermo per contrarium intelligendus, a word or speech to be understood by the contrary, or contrarily; derived from Antiphrazo, per contrarium loquor, to speak by contraries. Antiphrasis is a form of speech which by a word exprest doth signifie the contrary. It is a kinde of an Irony, and is, When one and the same word hath a contrary signification, or a meaning contrary to the original sense. (JG Smith)

3. Antiphrasis makes words to disagree From sense; if rightly they derived be. (Holmes)

4. In leaving this figure [Irony], remark that when it lies in a single word, Antiphrasis is the name. This is the use of a word the reverse of what one means-as in the expression, "The sacred love of gold;" or as when we say of a foolish fellow, "What a perfect Solon he is." (Macbeth)

5. A new and opposite Name for a thing after the original Meaning has ceased... The figure is so called, because a word or phrase is used in a sense opposite to its original and proper signification; the figure is thus one of emphasize same important fact or circumstance, as when a court of justice was once called "a court of vengence." (Bullinger, 690)


1. Referring to a tall person: "Now there's a midget for you." (Silva Rhetoricae)

2. You are alwaies my friend; meaning mine enemy. (JG Smith)

3. Lucus, from Lux Light, signifies a dark shady Grove. (Holmes)

5. Gen. 3:22. -"Behold, the man is become as one of us": i.e., he had become, not necessarily or really "a God," but what the tempter promised him; and now he will the Tempter's doom and be cast out from God's presence. (Bullinger, 690)

Kind Of Opposition
Part Of
Related Figures irony, meiosis, auxesis, hyperbole, paralipsis
Notes I'm not sure if the example from Holmes has been entered correctly (the original text is small and unclear). - Nayoung
Confidence Unconfident
Last Editor Robert Clapperton
Confidence Unconfident
Editorial Notes [part of irony?] - according to JG Smith it is -Nike
Reviewed No