OXYMORON

oxymoron

(noun) conjoining contradictory terms (as in ‘deafening silence’)

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

oxymoron (plural oxymorons or oxymora)

(rhetoric) A figure of speech in which two words or phrases with opposing meanings are used together intentionally for effect.

(loosely, sometimes proscribed) A contradiction in terms.

Usage notes

• Historically, an oxymoron was "a paradox with a point", or "pointedly foolish: a witty saying, the more pointed from being paradoxical or seemingly absurd" at first glance. Its deliberate purpose was to underscore a point or to draw attention to a concealed point. The common vernacular use of oxymoron as simply a contradiction in terms is considered incorrect by some speakers and writers, and is perhaps best avoided in certain contexts.